the best gift essay

Essay on My Best Gift

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Best Gift in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Best Gift

Introduction.

The joy of receiving gifts is immeasurable. Among all the gifts I have received, one stands out as the best.

The Best Gift

My best gift was a book, gifted by my grandmother on my 10th birthday. It wasn’t just any book, but a collection of inspiring stories.

Why It’s Special

This book is special because it ignited my love for reading. Each story taught me valuable lessons about life.

The best gifts aren’t always the most expensive ones. They are those that leave a lasting impact on our lives, just like my book.

250 Words Essay on My Best Gift

Gifts hold a unique place in our lives, often serving as markers of significant moments or relationships. The best gifts are not necessarily the most expensive, but those that carry profound emotional value. For me, the best gift I’ve ever received is a small, worn-out notebook from my grandmother, a gift that has shaped my life in unimaginable ways.

The Gift’s Significance

The notebook, filled with my grandmother’s handwritten recipes, is more than just a collection of dishes. It is a testament to her love for cooking and a symbol of her desire to pass on the family’s culinary heritage. She had spent years perfecting those recipes, and her gift was a way of entrusting me with a piece of our family’s history.

Impact of the Gift

The notebook has significantly influenced my life. It sparked a passion for cooking that I was previously unaware of. I found joy in replicating the recipes, each dish bringing me closer to my roots and instilling a sense of connection to my family. The notebook also taught me the value of preserving traditions and the importance of sharing them with future generations.

In conclusion, the best gift I’ve ever received is not valuable in monetary terms, but it is priceless in its emotional significance. It represents a tangible link to my family’s past and a guide for preserving our traditions. It is a gift that has shaped my interests, values, and identity. The notebook from my grandmother is not just a collection of recipes; it is a cherished keepsake, a source of inspiration, and undoubtedly, my best gift.

500 Words Essay on My Best Gift

Gifts are a universal way to express emotions such as love, appreciation, and gratitude. Throughout our lives, we receive various gifts, but some hold a special place in our hearts. The best gift I ever received was not wrapped in shiny paper or tied with a colorful ribbon, but was a profound life experience that forever changed my perspective.

The Unexpected Gift

The best gift I ever received was a two-week trip to a remote village in Africa, a gift from my parents on my eighteenth birthday. Initially, I was perplexed, even disappointed. I had expected a car, a gadget, or a lavish party, but instead, I was given an experience that seemed unexciting. Little did I know, this trip would be the most valuable gift I’d ever receive.

Experiencing a Different World

In the remote village, I was exposed to a world far removed from the comforts of my urban life. The villagers lived in humble huts, tilled their fields manually, fetched water from wells, and cooked on open fires. There were no shopping malls, no internet, and no fast food. Initially, it was a culture shock. But as the days passed, I began to understand the essence of their lifestyle.

Lessons from Simplicity

The villagers taught me the beauty of simplicity. They found joy in the simplest things – a good harvest, a community gathering, a starlit sky. They were content with what they had, and they shared generously. Their sense of community was profound; they worked together, celebrated together, and supported each other in times of need. The happiness and contentment they derived from their simple lives were eye-opening.

Valuing What Matters

This experience taught me to value relationships and experiences over material possessions. I realized that the relentless pursuit of material wealth often leads to stress and discontentment. On the other hand, the villagers, with their simple lives and strong community bonds, seemed happier and more content. This realization was a paradigm shift for me, making me reconsider what I truly valued in life.

In retrospect, the trip to the African village was the best gift I ever received. It was not a material possession that would lose its value over time, but an experience that enriched my life and broadened my perspective. It taught me the importance of simplicity, contentment, and community – lessons that continue to shape my life. This gift from my parents was indeed a profound life experience, a gift that keeps on giving.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Gift
• Essay on Geography
• Essay on Today’s Generation

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Describe the best gift you have ever received – IELTS Cue Card

Updated On Dec 27, 2023

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Predicted 50 + IELTS Speaking Part 3 Topics 2024

In the IELTS Speaking section, one of the most common question types is the Cue Card Speaking prompt. The IELTS Cue Card topics will prompt you to formulate a response and speak on the given topic. To attempt this question, you must narrow down the essential questions on the given topic to answer within the given time. Consider the sample Cue Card below. Study the types of questions that have been formulated based on the cue card and how to go about with your response:

Describe the best gift you have ever received

You should say:

• What was the gift?
• Who gave it to you?
• When did you receive it?
• And explain why it is the best gift you have ever received

Sample Answer 1

Gifts, are always prized by everyone who receives them. Many people would argue that gifts, are an essential part of almost every special occasion. Gifts are a symbol of gratitude and never fail to uplift a person. One gift that always comes to my mind when I think of gifts is the birthday present I received for my 13th birthday. I had my heart set on a particular bicycle, and I received it for my 13th birthday.

This gift was given to me by my father. I had asked him for a bicycle to ride in the evenings around the neighbourhood for a long time, and he finally agreed to give me one for my 13th birthday. When he asked me what kind of bicycle I would like, I told him I would love a cycle with multiple gears. Although an expensive gift, my father bought it for me.

I received this gift on May 26 2013, and it was a Friday. I distinctly remember that day when my father agreed to take me to the bicycle showroom. I accompanied him on his bike, and we went to a specific bicycle shop on the other side of the city since bicycles with multiple gears were rare.

After we reached the shop and my father had a talk with the store manager, he asked me to pick a colour from the available options. I was elated, and my cheeks blushed with joy as I started to judge which bicycle colour was the best looking. I finally settled on the colour black, and my father made the purchase. After the bicycle arrived at our residence, I wasted no time before I started riding it around our house. That bicycle made my 13th birthday truly memorable and is one of the most cherished gifts I have ever received.

Sample Answer 2

Here is the sample for “Describe the best gift you have ever received” topic:

Gifts speak volumes about the love and care somebody has for you. Although, since childhood, I’ve received plenty of gifts from my relatives and family, one of them that I can never forget was a huge, orange-coloured doll and a battery-operated doll that was sitting on a cake and playing the piano. Just with the click of a button, the cake began revolving, and the doll sang a happy birthday song.

These gifts were given to me by my elder sister on my 12th birthday.

To begin with, it was the first-ever time when my sister had planned a surprise birthday party for me. She had decorated the room, placed these beside a huge cake, and had invited all of my friends – without my knowledge. Although she was merely two years older than me, I still hadn’t expected anything from her because she never used to express her emotions. However, that day, with such a grand gesture, she said a lot of things without expressing herself verbally. Another reason why all of these gifts and the party were special to me was that I didn’t know it was going to be my last birthday with her. She passed away after a few months because of a brain haemorrhage. So, the gifts remained memorable to me.

Sample Answer 3

Gifts are the most endearing thing one can receive. They are a proclamation of love, and they symbolize a feeling shared by the giver. As human beings, we have two ways of expression – Words and Action. When words aren’t enough to describe your emotions, they turn to action. Through gifting, a human being tries to express what words cannot encapsulate. 

The best gift I have received is my pup, Bruno. He is a German Shepherd and the cutest furball I have ever seen. Dogs are simply the most loyal companions one could ask for. They don’t love you for any worldly possessions of yours, they don’t love you for your wealth, they love you for you, and that is a beautiful thing. Dogs don’t care if you’re rich or poor, they just want to be happy, and they want to see you happy. Dogs are simply phenomenal. 

I received Bruno as a gift around 11 months ago. It was a surprise and the minute I saw his ecstatic little face, I knew we had an instant bond. Bruno is the kindest and pleasant dog I have ever met. He loves to take walks and play fetch. The minute he hears someone opening a snack, his ears perk up, and he comes running to get a piece too! He loves sweets and will definitely bring you a ball if he sees you upset. He’s the best gift I’ve ever received because he makes me happier than I thought I could be. He’s my best friend.

Here are the vocabularies for “Describe the best gift you have ever received” with examples:

• Endearing : inspiring affection. Ex : Amanda was endearing to nearly everyone she met because of her kind heart.  
• Proclamation : a clear declaration of something. Ex : The authorities issued a proclamation forbidding public meetings
• Encapsulate : express the essential features of (something) succinctly. Ex : It was very difficult to encapsulate the story of the revolution in a single one-hour documentary.
• Phenomenal : remarkable or exceptional, especially exceptionally good. Ex : California had experienced a phenomenal growth in population.
• Ecstatic : feeling or expressing overwhelming happiness or joyful excitement. Ex : Sally was ecstatic about her new job.

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30 + Difficult IELTS Cue Card Topics with Answer pdf

Janice Thompson

Soon after graduating with a Master’s in Literature from Southern Arkansas University, she joined an institute as an English language trainer. She has had innumerous student interactions and has produced a couple of research papers on English language teaching. She soon found that non-native speakers struggled to meet the English language requirements set by foreign universities. It was when she decided to jump ship into IELTS training. From then on, she has been mentoring IELTS aspirants. She joined IELTSMaterial about a year ago, and her contributions have been exceptional. Her essay ideas and vocabulary have taken many students to a band 9.

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Personal Writing: The Best Gift I Ever Received

This worked up example isn’t perfect by any stretch! It is my work, not from a student, and so it might give ‘middle aged mummy’ vibes rather than feeling like the authentic voice of a teenager. Nonetheless, I think it’s helpful for students to see how to structure a piece of personal writing and keep it focused on the topic. 

For more on teaching personal writing, read  this blog post , and download my free Personal Writing Guide for students which you can download here:

Write a speech for your classmates about the best gift you ever received.

The wind whipped around the front garden, gathering leaves into a mini tornado which whirled and swirled before me. Why was I sitting in front of the living room window, staring intently at the leaves, on this breezy autumn Saturday? Year 11, if I told you that this was the single most significant morning of my whole life, you might think I was exaggerating, but the truth is always much stranger than fiction. Come with me back in time to that momentous morning in October 2020 when I received the best gift a lonely, grieving young girl could ever have asked for.

Don’t launch straight into the gift itself. Make the reader wait. Instead, set the scene. Try opening with the weather. 

Address your listeners by name. Speak to them by inviting them into the story, e.g. Come with me …/Let’s journey back in time …/Imagine this …

The reader wants specifics – when, where, what happened. Avoid being vague.

Use repetition to create structure in a paragraph. In this case, anaphora. ‘We all …’ is repeated three times.

This story doesn’t really begin on that Saturday, if I’m being perfectly honest with you. I have to go back further. It was March of 2020 and the world around me was beginning to crack under pressure. I was 12 years old and I was about to become alone in the world. I was about to lose two things that were most dear to me: my freedom and my favourite person. Yes, this story is not just my story; it’s one we all shared. We all watched the news. We all listened to the scare stories. And then we all listened as Boris broke us. He told us that Covid-19 was spreading too quickly to be contained, and that we all had to stay inside.

Yes, I know you are thinking: “So what?” This happened to everyone across the world. Stop being so selfish and look beyond yourself. But this is my story, so you have to give me a minute! I was 12 and my world was already small. It was just the girls: granny, mummy and me. The three musketeers, mum always said. She said it even when no-one listened, because it made her feel better about the state we were in. No money, no treats and no big family to spend time with. Just the three of us. That is, until Covid-19 viciously ripped away one of our triplet: my granny didn’t stand a chance against that new and determined demon.

Suit your style to your audience – in this case, your class are your audience, so use a conversational, chatty style.

Create imagery through similes or metaphors. Here, a metaphor is used to compare covid to a demon.

Be real with your reader; personal writing is meant to be personal. Describe emotions, thoughts and feelings to help your reader to bond with you and feel what you feel.

Vary your sentence length. Note the three one-word sentences at the end of the paragraph – the full stops create long pauses which slow it down and make it feel more significant and emotive.

We said our heartbroken farewells to Granny at Roselawn Cemetery on a wet April day. Frosty mornings were giving way to the brighter spring weather but we didn’t notice; we felt only loss and sadness. Granny had lived a good life, but it was cut short and I wasn’t sure I could ever get over it. Mummy was also devastated and when we got home that afternoon, the house seemed to mourn. The walls were the same but the air was different. Sadder. Heavier. Darker.

Ok, ok, I can hear you all losing interest. You want to know about the gift, right? Well, let’s fast forward a few months. The summer had passed quietly; I missed my granny more than I could really describe. It was the companionship, chats and giggles I missed the most. My friends kept mostly to themselves and the covid rules were still in place, so I never really met up with anyone. I chatted to friends on facetime every now and then, but I was mostly alone when my mum was at work, and when she came home, the loss of granny seemed even bigger in the house. Someone was missing and we couldn’t get over it.

At this point, you might need to refocus on the topic – check the title and ensure you are moving towards a clear focus and a climax of the story.

Here is a little distraction, or a red herring, to keep your audience engaged. It’s short and relatable and keeps the reader waiting for a moment longer for the big reveal, the best gift you ever received.

Mum texted me that Saturday morning. She told me to wait at the window for a surprise. I figured she had been quick off the mark to get some of those cinnamon swirls we kept missing from the bakery. Every Saturday, we slept in and they were always sold out by the time we got there. Maybe mum had been in luck today.

I saw her car pull up and she got out, empty handed. My tummy gurgled and growled with both hunger and disappointment: “No cinnamon swirl for me then,” I thought angrily. Why would she tease me like this!

Give living attributes to anything you can (‘my tummy … growled … with disappointment’) to exaggerate feelings.

Repeating an idea from the start is a great way to add structure – the echo back to the start reminds the reader of the setting in this case.

She moved to the back of the car and opened the boot. Those swirling leaves didn’t distract me now as I watched her carry a large cardboard box towards the house. What on earth was it? I met her in the hallway and I opened the box as she closed the front door. I couldn’t believe my eyes; a beautiful, golden Labrador pup looked up at me with big brown eyes that I will never forget. She was absolutely beautiful and I lost my heart to her then and there.

Year 11, I won’t bore you with how much I cared for her, played with her and spent every waking moment with her, but I think those of you who know me, know how much Maggie means to me. Maggie was my granny’s name, and now a part of her lives on in Maggie the pup. Well, she’s not a pup anymore but you know what I mean! Mags has taught me to have fun again. She gets me outside, reminds me how to laugh and most of all, she has brought joy and happiness back to our home that we thought was gone forever after granny died. 

Talk to the audience regularly through the speech. Remind the reader of the bond you have (‘those of you who know me…’).

Use triplets/groups of three (cared for her, played with her and spent every waking moment with her) to create structure and rhythm to your sentences. This is more enjoyable to read, almost musical in its sound.

Go back to the title of the task – be very (very) clear that you are well focused on the main topic and have fully answered the task. Reflect at the end e.g. Looking back now …/I know for sure that …/This gift is …

Maggie the pup is, without question, the best gift I have ever, or could ever receive. I will never forget Granny Mags and she can never be replaced, but Maggie the pup is a brilliant friend who has picked me up and helped me keep going. Not only can I never forget my wonderful granny, but I will also never forget the kindness of my mum in seeing what I really needed in those lonely months and doing everything she could to get it for me, even though it came at a big cost to her pocket. Thank you, mum, for this amazing gift!

That’s all folks!

Thanks for reading, and please comment below if you have tips or suggestions on how to teach personal writing. We love to share ideas.

You can find the  mark scheme for CCEA GCSE Personal Writing on p10-13 in this link.

If you would like to guest post, or if you’d like to chat more, please get in touch via the  contact form . I’d love to hear from you.

Feb 2023 edit: read  this article , in which I get ChatGTP to write the same essay!

Photo: pexels.com

Gifts of one who loved me, — 'T was high time they came; When he ceased to love me, Time they stopped for shame.

In his essay "Gifts," Ralph Waldo Emerson delves into the intricacies of giving and receiving presents, emphasizing the importance of thoughtfulness, sincerity, and simplicity. He underscores that the true value of a gift lies not in its material worth but in the genuine expression of love, friendship, or gratitude it represents. For Emerson, the most meaningful gifts reflect the giver's understanding and appreciation of the recipient's character, needs, and desires, transcending the mere transactional nature of gift-giving.

Emerson also explores gift-receiving etiquette, stating that gracious acceptance is as crucial as giving. He encourages recipients to recognize the giver's intentions and appreciate the emotional significance behind the gift rather than focusing solely on its material aspects. By cultivating mindfulness and humility in giving and receiving, Emerson believes that individuals can strengthen their relationships and foster a more profound connection with one another.

I t is said that the world is in a state of bankruptcy, that the world owes the world more than the world can pay, and ought to go into chancery, and be sold. I do not think this general insolvency, which involves in some sort all the population, to be the reason of the difficulty experienced at Christmas and New Year, and other times, in bestowing gifts; since it is always so pleasant to be generous, though very vexatious to pay debts. But the impediment lies in the choosing. If, at any time, it comes into my head, that a present is due from me to somebody, I am puzzled what to give, until the opportunity is gone. Flowers and fruits are always fit presents; flowers, because they are a proud assertion that a ray of beauty outvalues all the utilities of the world. These gay natures contrast with the somewhat stern countenance of ordinary nature: they are like music heard out of a work-house. Nature does not cocker us: we are children, not pets: she is not fond: everything is dealt to us without fear or favor, after severe universal laws. Yet these delicate flowers look like the frolic and interference of love and beauty. Men use to tell us that we love flattery, even though we are not deceived by it, because it shows that we are of importance enough to be courted. Something like that pleasure, the flowers give us: what am I to whom these sweet hints are addressed? Fruits are acceptable gifts, because they are the flower of commodities, and admit of fantastic values being attached to them. If a man should send to me to come a hundred miles to visit him, and should set before me a basket of fine summerfruit, I should think there was some proportion between the labor and the reward.

For common gifts, necessity makes pertinences and beauty every day, and one is glad when an imperative leaves him no option, since if the man at the door have no shoes, you have not to consider whether you could procure him a paint-box. And as it is always pleasing to see a man eat bread, or drink water, in the house or out of doors, so it is always a great satisfaction to supply these first wants. Necessity does everything well. In our condition of universal dependence, it seems heroic to let the petitioner be the judge of his necessity, and to give all that is asked, though at great inconvenience. If it be a fantastic desire, it is better to leave to others the office of punishing him. I can think of many parts I should prefer playing to that of the Furies. Next to things of necessity, the rule for a gift, which one of my friends prescribed, is, that we might convey to some person that which properly belonged to his character, and was easily associated with him in thought. But our tokens of compliment and love are for the most part barbarous. Rings and other jewels are not gifts, but apologies for gifts. The only gift is a portion of thyself. Thou must bleed for me. Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing. This is right and pleasing, for it restores society in so far to its primary basis, when a man's biography is conveyed in his gift, and every man's wealth is an index of his merit. But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy me something, which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith's. This is fit for kings, and rich men who represent kings, and a false state of property, to make presents of gold and silver stuffs, as a kind of symbolical sin-offering, or payment of black-mail.

The law of benefits is a difficult channel, which requires careful sailing, or rude boats. It is not the office of a man to receive gifts. How dare you give them? We wish to be self-sustained. We do not quite forgive a giver. The hand that feeds us is in some danger of being bitten. We can receive anything from love, for that is a way of receiving it from ourselves; but not from any one who assumes to bestow. We sometimes hate the meat which we eat, because there seems something of degrading dependence in living by it.

"Brother, if Jove to thee a present make, Take heed that from his hands thou nothing take."

We ask the whole. Nothing less will content us. We arraign society, if it do not give us besides earth, and fire, and water, opportunity, love, reverence, and objects of veneration.

He is a good man, who can receive a gift well. We are either glad or sorry at a gift, and both emotions are unbecoming. Some violence, I think, is done, some degradation borne, when I rejoice or grieve at a gift. I am sorry when my independence is invaded, or when a gift comes from such as do not know my spirit, and so the act is not supported; and if the gift pleases me overmuch, then I should be ashamed that the donor should read my heart, and see that I love his commodity, and not him. The gift, to be true, must be the flowing of the giver unto me, correspondent to my flowing unto him. When the waters are at level, then my goods pass to him, and his to me. All his are mine, all mine his. I say to him, How can you give me this pot of oil, or this flagon of wine, when all your oil and wine is mine, which belief of mine this gift seems to deny? Hence the fitness of beautiful, not useful things for gifts. This giving is flat usurpation, and therefore when the beneficiary is ungrateful, as all beneficiaries hate all Timons, not at all considering the value of the gift, but looking back to the greater store it was taken from, I rather sympathize with the beneficiary, than with the anger of my lord Timon. For, the expectation of gratitude is mean, and is continually punished by the total insensibility of the obliged person. It is a great happiness to get off without injury and heart-burning, from one who has had the ill luck to be served by you. It is a very onerous business, this of being served, and the debtor naturally wishes to give you a slap. A golden text for these gentlemen is that which I so admire in the Buddhist, who never thanks, and who says, "Do not flatter your benefactors."

The reason of these discords I conceive to be, that there is no commensurability between a man and any gift. You cannot give anything to a magnanimous person. After you have served him, he at once puts you in debt by his magnanimity. The service a man renders his friend is trivial and selfish, compared with the service he knows his friend stood in readiness to yield him, alike before he had begun to serve his friend, and now also. Compared with that good-will I bear my friend, the benefit it is in my power to render him seems small. Besides, our action on each other, good as well as evil, is so incidental and at random, that we can seldom hear the acknowledgments of any person who would thank us for a benefit, without some shame and humiliation. We can rarely strike a direct stroke, but must be content with an oblique one; we seldom have the satisfaction of yielding a direct benefit, which is directly received. But rectitude scatters favors on every side without knowing it, and receives with wonder the thanks of all people.

I fear to breathe any treason against the majesty of love, which is the genius and god of gifts, and to whom we must not affect to prescribe. Let him give kingdoms or flower-leaves indifferently. There are persons, from whom we always expect fairy tokens; let us not cease to expect them. This is prerogative, and not to be limited by our municipal rules. For the rest, I like to see that we cannot be bought and sold. The best of hospitality and of generosity is also not in the will, but in fate. I find that I am not much to you; you do not need me; you do not feel me; then am I thrust out of doors, though you proffer me house and lands. No services are of any value, but only likeness. When I have attempted to join myself to others by services, it proved an intellectual trick, — no more. They eat your service like apples, and leave you out. But love them, and they feel you, and delight in you all the time.

What did Emerson say about the gift giver and the gift receiver?

In his essay "Gifts," Ralph Waldo Emerson discusses the roles of both the gift giver and receiver, emphasizing the importance of thoughtfulness, sincerity, and understanding. According to Emerson, the true value of a gift lies in the expression of love, friendship, or gratitude it represents rather than its material worth.

For the gift giver, Emerson believes the most meaningful gifts reflect a deep understanding and appreciation of the recipient's character, needs, and desires. A thoughtful and sincere gift transcends the mere transactional nature of gift-giving and creates a meaningful connection between the giver and the receiver.

As for the gift receiver, Emerson stresses the importance of gracious acceptance. He encourages recipients to appreciate the emotional significance and intentions behind the gift rather than focusing solely on its material aspects. By doing so, the receiver acknowledges the giver's thoughtfulness and effort, cultivating mindfulness and humility.

In summary, Emerson's views on gift-giving and receiving revolve around the ideas of thoughtfulness, sincerity, and fostering deeper connections between individuals. He believes that both the giver and receiver have essential roles in making the exchange of gifts a meaningful and enriching experience.

What are the Rules of Gifts according to Emerson?

Ralph Waldo Emerson doesn't necessarily lay out specific "rules" for gift-giving in his essay "Gifts." Still, he does convey several important principles that can guide giving and receiving gifts. Some of these principles include:

Thoughtfulness: The most valuable gifts demonstrate a deep understanding of the recipient's character, needs, and desires. The gift should be chosen with care, reflecting the giver's genuine affection and appreciation for the recipient.

Sincerity: A gift should be an honest expression of love, friendship, or gratitude. It should come from the heart and not be given out of obligation or as a mere formality.

Simplicity: Emerson suggests simplicity is often the key to a significant gift. Extravagant or expensive gifts may not necessarily be more meaningful than simpler ones, especially if they lack a personal connection or thoughtfulness.

The gift's intrinsic value: The true worth of a gift lies not in its material value but in its emotional significance and the connection it creates between the giver and receiver.

Gracious acceptance: As a gift receiver, it is important to be mindful and humble, focusing on the emotional significance and intentions behind the gift rather than its material aspects.

Reciprocity: Emerson touches on the idea that gift-giving is often reciprocal but also emphasizes that it should not be a tit-for-tat exchange. The focus should remain on expressing genuine feelings and fostering a deeper connection between individuals.

In conclusion, while Emerson does not lay out specific rules for gift-giving and receiving, he emphasizes the importance of thoughtfulness, sincerity, simplicity, and graciousness in the process. The giver and receiver can create a more meaningful and enriching experience by following these principles.

Why do we find it difficult to receive gifts?

Receiving gifts can be difficult for some people due to various reasons, including the following:

Feelings of unworthiness: Some individuals may feel undeserving of gifts or attention, leading to discomfort when receiving presents. This could be rooted in low self-esteem, past experiences, or cultural beliefs.

Fear of obligation: Receiving a gift may create a sense of indebtedness, making the recipient feel as though they are now obligated to reciprocate the gesture. This pressure to give back can be uncomfortable and may cause some people to feel uneasy about accepting gifts.

Discomfort with vulnerability: Accepting a gift requires acknowledging that someone has thought about and cared for you, which can make some individuals feel vulnerable. This vulnerability may be challenging for those who prefer to maintain emotional distance or self-reliance.

Concerns about the gift's appropriateness: Some people may worry about the suitability of the gift, whether it is too expensive, too personal, or not aligned with their tastes or values. This concern can create unease when receiving a gift.

Fear of appearing greedy or materialistic: Accepting a gift might cause some individuals to worry about appearing selfish or overly focused on material possessions. This fear can make it difficult to accept a present graciously.

Cultural differences: In some cultures, accepting gifts may be associated with specific customs or expectations that can create anxiety or confusion. For example, certain cultures may dictate that a gift should be refused several times before finally accepting it or that an immediate reciprocal gift is required.

To overcome these difficulties, it is essential to cultivate gratitude and graciousness when receiving gifts. Remember that a gift is often an expression of love, friendship, or appreciation; accepting it graciously can strengthen relationships and foster a deeper connection with others.

What is the meaning of gift giving?

Gift-giving is a universal expression of various emotions, sentiments, and social bonds. It serves several purposes and carries different meanings depending on the context, culture, and personal intentions. Some of the key meanings and purposes of gift-giving include:

Expression of love, affection, or friendship: Gift-giving is often a way to show love and care for someone, reinforcing the emotional connection between the giver and the recipient.

Celebration or commemoration: Gifts are often given to mark special occasions, such as birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, or holidays, to celebrate and create lasting memories.

Expression of gratitude or appreciation: Giving a gift can be a token of thanks or recognition for someone's kindness, support, or hard work.

Strengthening social bonds: Gift-giving is essential in building and maintaining relationships, whether among family, friends, or colleagues. It promotes goodwill, trust, and reciprocity, fostering stronger social connections.

Cultural or religious traditions: Many cultures and religions have specific gift-giving customs and rituals, reflecting the values and beliefs of the community. In these contexts, gifts can carry deeper symbolic meanings and serve to uphold cultural identity and continuity.

Acts of generosity and charity: Giving gifts to those in need, such as through donations or volunteering, is an expression of compassion and empathy, contributing to the well-being of others and the greater good.

Overall, the meaning of gift-giving is multifaceted, encompassing emotional, social, cultural, and even spiritual dimensions. By giving and receiving gifts, individuals can express their feelings, strengthen relationships, and create lasting memories, making it an essential aspect of human interaction and connection.

Ralph Waldo Emerson left the ministry to pursue a career in writing and public speaking. Emerson became one of America's best known and best-loved 19th-century figures. More About Emerson

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"Every man has his own courage, and is betrayed because he seeks in himself the courage of other persons." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Do You Need to Give a Gift?

How big should it be, how to pick a gift, the presentation.

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Originally published on Nov. 1, 2018

How to Give a Great Gift

By Bonnie Wertheim

Photography by Will Anderson; Styled by Livia Cetti

Sometimes we give gifts because we know the recipients will love and appreciate them. They dropped the right hints, we considered their tastes and interests and picked just the right object to wrap in that beautiful paper. Sometimes we give gifts out of obligation, choosing items from a registry that are predestined to be used, if not loved, or sending flowers because, well, flowers make people happy. And other times we scour museum gift shops seeking souvenirs that our loved ones are unlikely to treasure for more than a fleeting moment. But that fleeting moment is often worth the $15 and the luggage space. Gift-giving is a love language and one that anyone can learn to speak. This guide will help you develop your fluency.

This could be the most important question in your gift-giving journey.

Why Do We Do This? (Beyond the Obvious)

Gifting can be a way of showing you care about someone, or reflecting the care someone has shown you. There’s never a particularly inappropriate time to do it. Oftentimes, though, we try to force our expressions of love to fit occasion-specific molds rather than the recipients themselves. (Think about how many recent graduates have received a copy of Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!,” which is a great book, but still.)

Of course, many events have established practices of gift-giving, including birthdays and weddings, and some religious or cultural holidays. While giving gifts around these dates can feel more rote, it is still important to try to convey your affection for the recipient.

A note: Yes, some people have personal ideologies around gift-giving that reject objects as materialistic or simply clutter. You can still find a way to give a gift and be respectful of those beliefs. Hang on, we’ll get there.

Reasons to Give

Keeping those realities in mind, here’s a non-exhaustive list of possible gift-giving occasions and how to approach them:

Birthdays. For adults, start with a phone call, a card, an email or a text message. Most people, even if they “hate birthdays,” want to feel validated in their personhood, and this is the day they became a person. Then consider your relationship. Is this someone with whom you are very close, someone whose tastes and wants are known to you? Is this a person with whom you’re trying to increase your intimacy? If the answer to any of those questions is yes, you probably want to get them something. The gift need not match the exact magnitude (size, price, etc.) of anything they’ve given you in the past. The point is to reciprocate their love and generosity, and to open the door for future shows of affection. (For kids, unless otherwise specified, a small gift basically required at a party.)

Religious holidays. There’s a reason we picture incandescent living rooms filled with wrapped gifts when we think of the winter holiday season: People give a lot (sometimes more than they can afford) at the end of each year. The National Retail Federation has projected that Americans will spend between $717 billion and $721 billion in November and December, ahead of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Oftentimes these gifts are reserved for family members, but they can span all kinds of relationships. If you’re not sure whether you’re on those terms with someone, start a conversation about it. There’s nothing wrong with asking, “Are we exchanging gifts this year?” and it could save you a lot of stress later.

Anniversaries. Every year that a couple chooses to remain together is worth marking, whether that’s with a night out, a talisman for continued companionship or some combination of the two. If you’re stuck on what to get, there’s nothing wrong with taking the traditional tack. Years 1 through 60 of marriage have material themes that can guide your search.

Federal and Hallmark holidays. President’s Day presents? Maybe not. But some of these days create conditions for creative giving. Even those who opt out of these days are capable of appreciating an expression of love. So whether that’s a phone call on Mother’s or Father’s Day, or a bouquet of roses on Valentine’s Day, it’s worth it. You probably don’t need to sign your best friend up for a Ben and Jerry’s subscription on National Ice Cream Day, but you also don’t not need to.

New life stages. Graduations, moves, births, deaths: Many of these can be marked with cards, but if you can think of something that reflects or supports the transition the recipient is going through, share it. Even better is when it’s something they might fail to consider as they are dealing with the stress of change: think about a doormat for a new homeowner, or warm food for a grieving friend.

Formal occasions. The conventional wisdom of gifts for weddings, bar and bat mitzvahs, sweet 16s, quinceañeras and the like is that the gift should match the cost of a place setting, which is more or less the price of a fancy dinner (think somewhere between $50 and $120 and double that if you’re attending with a guest). In cases where you are especially close with the honoree(s), your gift might exceed that dollar amount. It also might not be so easily quantified. If your budget is tight, you can also offer to trade in expertise for big occasions; if you’re a photographer, for example, your gift to the soon-to-be-wed couple might be a pro-bono photo package.

No occasion. Random acts of kindness can be the most thrilling: leaving something thoughtful on a colleague’s desk, sending a book to a long-distance friend, showing up with flowers for no reason except that they were beautiful and you wanted to share that beauty with someone else. The return on these gestures is just about always greater than the effort put into them.

Note: When someone tells you not to bring a gift, they mean it.

Unfortunately, size matters when it comes to gifting. Here’s how to keep things under control.

Often, gift giving starts with a price range. That’s just reality. You can’t buy a beautiful new Tesla for your friend who has a hellishly long commute just because you know how much she would appreciate it. So, before you make any impulse purchases, ask yourself these four questions (and buy your friend a great pair of headphones instead):

1. Who is the recipient to you?

Is this person an immediate family member? A best friend? A new friend? A significant other? An extended family member? Your familial and emotional proximity will likely determine how personal and sizable the gift will be. Which is to say, you don’t need to book a spa package for a new friend , even if they really, really need to relax. Start with a stress ball.

2. What values is your relationship based on, and how can the gift reflect those values?

Some relationships trade in trendy meals, mutual love of garage rock or afternoons spent crafting around a coffee table. Some are incidental, rooted in proximity and pure chance, but nonetheless deep. Gift-giving can honor — in both obvious and subtle ways — the reasons you and your recipient are connected and how far your relationship has come. That said, if the primary facet of your relationship is humor, there’s nothing wrong with a gag gift.

3. What kind of generosity has this person shown you in the past?

Did they attend your wedding or your child’s birthday and go big? Reciprocity is always appropriate and can help narrow your search.

4. Is there something the person might appreciate more than a physical object?

Receiving gifts is not everyone’s love language. A home-cooked meal, or an offer to walk their teacup pig while they’re on vacation, might do more for your relationship than anything tied with a bow. Also, there’s never a clear price tag on these types of gestures, but the effort can make them quite valuable.

Find something they will love, even if they don’t know it yet.

The best gifts are surprising in a good way. You don’t want your spouse to wonder why you’ve given them the first four volumes of Robert Caro’s Lyndon B. Johnson biography for your wedding anniversary. So before you buy anything, consider these tips.

Think about the things they might need. Did they just move, adopt a pet or book an adventurous vacation? Gifting can be an opportunity to riff on the ways they’ve already spent their own money.

When someone says they want something , listen. There’s nothing quite like finally getting the thing you’ve been hinting at for months.

That said, don’t be overly practical . The point is to delight, not to restock your significant other’s toilet paper stash.

What would you want? Has the person ever complimented your taste? It’s possible that something on your own wish list would make a great I-didn’t-know-I-needed-this gift for a friend.

Consider the non-gift gift. Some people don’t want anything. But that doesn’t mean they don’t want anything . They just don’t want stuff. Experiences and perishables can be just as, and sometimes more, gratifying than a thing you have to keep forever, lest you insult an in-law.

Common Questions

Is a gift card ever acceptable? Sure, if it’s thoughtful, like a “go have a nice dinner at this fancy restaurant” gift certificate. What’s tricky is choosing a dollar amount that doesn’t force the recipient to spend too much of their own money at a specific place. That said, you shouldn’t spend more than your means, and as long as you keep in mind the recipient’s preferences, your gift should land. The etiquette expert Jacqueline Whitmore recommends writing a note to underscore the thought you put into the gesture.

Is regifting O.K.? Regifting isn’t always a cardinal sin . If you’ve received a gift that you’re sure someone else would love, why would you deprive them that small joy?

What if they hate the gift? Beware the possible misread. Is your recipient the kind of person who would take fancy soap the wrong way? If the answer is “maybe,” rethink the gift.

Gift wrap elevates the gifting experience and doesn’t have to be complicated.

Selecting a gift that your recipient will love is the hard part, so congratulations: You’re over the hump. Now it’s time to consider how you can elevate the gift through presentation. No one wants to be given a gift in a plastic bag with a receipt crinkled up at the bottom.

Does the gift need to be wrapped?

It’s a question whose answer is usually the same as the answer to another one: Is the gift alive? You needn’t wrap a plant or a puppy. But solid, inanimate objects are lent some intrigue when they are presented under wraps.

How to Wrap a Gift With No Paper

What is the best way to wrap it?

Does the object lend itself better to wrapping paper or tissue paper? This depends on whether the gift is hard or soft. Anything can be wrapped with sturdy paper if it is placed in a box. A jar of fancy jam, or a dry Riesling, on the other hand, would do better with tissue paper fastened with a bow. Bags are also an option, and if the recipient is resourceful, he or she will reuse the gift’s vessel.

How to wrap a box ( This video will help. ):

Materials: Gift, box (if gift is not box-shaped), paper, tape, scissors

Find a large, flat, clean surface to work on. (The floor is great. If you have a designated gift-wrapping room, that’s great too, but in that case you probably don’t need this advice.)

Spread out a sheet of wrapping paper and place the box on it facedown.

Wrap the paper loosely around the box to ensure that it will cover every side, then lay the paper flat again. If you’re using a roll of wrapping paper, cut the sheet to size. (Someone very smart came up with an equation for this.)

If the box is rectangular, turn it so that one of the shorter sides faces you.

Fold the left and right sides of the paper so that they overlap at the centerline of the box. The paper should be flush against the box so that it forms subtle creases along the edges.

Tape the overlapping sides of the paper together at the centerline.

Push the left and right sides of the wrapping paper in toward the side of the box that’s facing you, then press down on the top and bottom sides of the paper so that the paper forms 40-ish-degree angles.

Fold the top and bottom flaps toward each other and tape one over the other.

Repeat those steps on the remaining side of the box.

Take a second to admire your work.

How to wrap a bottle:

Materials: Wine bottle, tissue paper, ribbon/twine

You’ll also want a clean surface for this, but it only needs to be large enough to fit a standard sheet of tissue paper (20” x 26”).

Lay out two sheets of tissue paper on top of each other, and place the wine bottle in the middle of the top sheet.

Fold all of the sides upward toward the neck of the bottle, and secure them in a loose grip.

Tie ribbon or twine around the neck of the bottle to secure the paper.

Other wrapping tips for the less-talented among us:

Cellophane gift wrap , like the kind you see on raffle prizes, is forgiving of unsteady hands and looks great.

If you’re creatively inclined and willing to put in the time, Pinterest is full of whimsical ideas that are bound to delight.

Anything can be gift wrap, and since it usually all goes in the trash anyway it’s nice to start with something recycled. Some people use brown bags or newsprint.

Lots of retailers offer gift wrap for a fee. If you’re feeling very not confident in your skills, it’s worth it. And if it’s complimentary, definitely take it. It will save you time and money.

Do I need to write a note?

You should. It can be as short as a sentence or long as a full-blown letter. But it will lend emotional heft to an already-thoughtful gesture.

When do you deliver the gift?

If you can give a gift in person, it’s just about always worth doing so, if only to watch the recipient’s joy radiate. But if your dad’s birthday is next Tuesday, and you live an ocean away, you’re better off express mailing his gift. Some formal occasions have gift registries, in which case you’re better off ordering an item and having it delivered. That way, the happy couple won’t have to drive a U-haul worth of boxes home after their nuptials.

And always remember this about gift-giving:

● Giving anything is an act of kindness. Don’t stress over the specifics.

● Gift-giving is a love language, but it’s not everyone’s.

● Sometimes the best gift has no monetary value but is, instead, the free gift of presence.

Bonnie Wertheim is an editor and occasional writer for the Style section. More about Bonnie Wertheim

Summary of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Gifts

Fresh Reads

In Gifts by Ralph Waldo Emerson has defined the gift as ‘a portion of thyself’ rather than something that could be purchased. The essay dwells upon the virtues of selfless giving. In this essay, Emerson encourages the reader to do some ‘high thinking’ about the nature of both ‘gift giving’ and ‘gift receiving’.

The essay, ‘Gifts’ starts with a quote “Gift of Ones… stopped for shame.” Emerson gives us a preview to the essay stating that a person yearns for the love from others. When people love others, they present him with gifts. When love disappears, gifts cease to come. Such melting away of love is highly unfortunate and it should put the gift giver to shame. The undertone of the quote is emphasizing upon the importance of love.

Emerson states that there is a perennial shortage of gifts and gift – givers in the world. There is so much dearth of it that the world seems to be constantly trying to grapple with the shortage. During Christmas and New Year, one has a strong urge to give gifts as a generous act, but the scarcity of gifts seem to exceed. The main problem in gifting is to decide what exactly is to be gifted, for the judicious selection of a gift puts a lasting impression on the mind of the receiver, whereas an impulsion. Here, Emerson specifies by stating his personal example that if, at any time, he is due to gift somebody then he gets puzzled even after the time and opportunity of giving away the gift is gone.

Discussing about the choice of gifts, Emerson finds ‘Flowers’ and ‘Fruits’ as the two very obvious choices. Flowers, he says, symbolize the loftiest and most charming offerings of the nature. They beguile the mind through their breathtaking beauty and variety. Nature at times unveils its dark side to us, however, a blossom emerges from the morbid background bringing with it, its genteel, fresh and bewitching face. Flowers, undoubtedly, are the messengers of love and sublime creativity. They make us feel good, loved, wanted and important. Flowers flatter us in a subtle way. They give us pleasure by hinting upon what we mean to whom. Fruits, Emerson states, are an adorable item to be gifted, to a large extent.

Fruits, just like flowers, are nature’s best offerings to its children. They assure of providing a sense of satisfaction with the satiating values attached to it. Emerson explains with a situation that if a fruit grower walks an unusually long distance, carrying the basket of fruit on his back and present it to his friend, the sheer labour involved in the transportation of the fruit and the love of the giver for the recipient, proportionally enhances his self – importance.

Emerson now talks about the ordinary gifts, those other than flowers and fruits. In his view, Emerson states that the ‘necessity for the recipient’ is a good parameter to analyze while choosing a gift. He states a few examples like, presenting a pair of shoes to a barefooted person will definitely fill his heart with an instant joy since he was craving for a pair of shoes. Hence, ordinary day-to-day items make a great gifting idea as they mean to satisfy the first want of the receiver. Seeing a hungry man eating with relish is always a pleasing sight. So gifting food items to the ones who need it, is a great thought.

The next parameter to decide on a gift is the convey of thought which properly suits the character of the gift – receiver. For instance, gifting something that might suit the hobby or desire of the receiver makes for a good choice. Though Emerson says that we tend to apologize when we choose rings or jewels as gifts. He says that these are no gifts but a shame on gifts as they convey no amount of personal sentiment or sacrifice, rather, the giver expects the receiver to love it just for its monetary worth. Herein, Emerson emphasizes the fact that ‘The only gift is a portion of thyself.’ One must give a part of himself in the gift, while gifting someone, for that will speak volumes about the love and the emotional bond shared between the two. Emerson justifies this thought by stating that when a poet brings his poem, a shepherd when brings a lamb from his herd, a farmer brings a portion of his harvest, the miner gets a gem, the sailor when gifts a coral and shells, the painter when gets a picture and a girl when gifts a handkerchief which is self – sewed, the giver parts with a portion of his own self. In the same thought, when a person gifts another his biography, he instantly builds an emotional bond. Such gifts are valued and are received with utter warmth and delight. In terms of monetary value, such gifts may be insignificant but for the recipient they are priceless and an absolute treasure. Such gifts touch the heart.

Emerson says that, in his personal opinion, when a person shops to buy a gift, something which does not represent the giver’s life and talent, the intention of giving gift reduces to an effort for enhancing one’s own standing, or as atonement sums for sins. Such practice of choosing ready-made items of high value is seen among the elite and the royalty. However, such gifts are cold, impersonal and detached in nature, hence become a mere formal act of gifting rather than building up a bond between the gift-giver and the gift-receiver.

Emerson further discusses a very important aspect of the culture of ‘gifting’. In his opinion, the practice of giving or receiving gift is a delicate job that requires careful judgement. Normally, a self-respecting man doesn’t like receiving gifts for they like to be self-sustained and, therefore, tend to get upset and unforgiving towards the gift-giver. Only those gifts that express genuine and unselfish love are positively received. One can accept anything which is given out of love, but when someone gives gifts in a condescend attitude, the person receiving it feels hurt and humiliated and might show his displeasure overtly for one feels obliged. So, gift-giving carries with it some risk. For instance, Emerson states, we might feel guilty while eating the meat for it had been reared by someone else’s effort and investment, hence adding an element of degrading dependency to it.

Emerson continues further, though now he sounds didactic. He says that there is a major risk attached to receiving gifts. He kind of preaches us and says that if someone gives us a gift, we should make it a point not to take anything else from him. Emerson says that our expectations from others is limitless. We ask for everything, ranging from earth, fire, water, opportunity, love, reverence, etc. We expect all our needs to be given to us as gifts. Such expectations which are borne out of greed and laziness are degrading in nature and, therefore, need to be avoided.

Being able to receive gifts with dignity and grace is a virtue. We should restrain our feelings while receiving gifts and curb the overt expressions of joy or disappointment at the time of accepting gifts for it degrades the sole purpose of gifting. When a gift comes from someone who isn’t aware of the nature and spirit of the receiver, it causes more harm than good, for it reveals the unconcerned attitude of the giver. Gifts given just as mere ‘giveaways’ are vexatious, because the reason behind gifting isn’t mutual love or admiration.

Even in the situations when the receiver likes the gift that he has received, he is expected to hold onto his expression of extreme joy for it will be embarrassing for the giver to find that the gift is adored more than the giver himself. Emerson emphasizes again the true spirit of gifting, which is nothing more than a flow of mutual love between the gift-giver and the receiver of it.

The idea of the ‘usefulness’ of the gift does not hold good in a situation where both, the giver and receiver, are intimate friends and are of equal means. In such a cash, a modest gift may be misguided as a slight. The receiver might feel annoyed on getting such a ‘small’ gift. He might, out of greed, desire to be given a large chunk of the giver’s assets. Instead of thanking, he might end up getting angry with the giver. Emerson suggests that it is rather better to keep away from such ungrateful, mean and greedy people. Emerson suggests people to remain detached and unaffected on receiving a gift. Stating the Buddhists, he says that they behave with rare equanimity on being flattered or honoured with gifts. So all should behave like them.

In Emerson’s view, the reason for such discords between the gift-giver and receiver is that in many cases or on many occasions, the gift, that is given, fails to communicate with both, the giver and the receiver. Emerson says that no gift is apt for a magnanimous person, because when one works for a magnanimous person, he rewards so profusely that one instantly becomes indebted to him. His generosity makes him a difficult person to be chosen to give a gift to, since such altruistic persons are always prompt in helping a friend in need. It, thus, becomes very difficult to extend even a minor service to them. In our daily life, we interact with our friends. At times we are good to them and at times our acts may be evil. All this happens so frequently that we fail to thank our friends for their good deeds. Emerson suggests here that if we are unable to render a service to someone directly, we can do collective good by sticking to a moral and honest behavior.

In Emerson’s opinion ‘the power of love is a genius gift and the best of all.’ He states that love is all encompassing and universally sought. A gift that sings in love should be accepted with utmost joy. One should never attempt to qualify such a show of love. Some people are eminently placed to give worthy gifts, hence one should embrace it with pleasure.

One cannot pursue gifts and get them. They come on their own, unsolicited. Emerson concludes by saying that when the charm of love is missing, no amount of gift, either in quantity or value, should be accepted by us. He says that personally, through his well meaning advice, he received some intellectual satisfaction. Those who benefit from his sermons but fail to thank him, he is morally bound to love them too.

Related posts:

• Summary and Analysis of Virginia Woolf’s Shakespeare’s Sister
• Summary of Aldous Huxley’s Selected Snobberies
• Summary of Charles Lamb’s Dream Children
• Summary of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s Self Reliance

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College Admissions , College Essays

The personal statement might just be the hardest part of your college application. Mostly this is because it has the least guidance and is the most open-ended. One way to understand what colleges are looking for when they ask you to write an essay is to check out the essays of students who already got in—college essays that actually worked. After all, they must be among the most successful of this weird literary genre.

In this article, I'll go through general guidelines for what makes great college essays great. I've also compiled an enormous list of 100+ actual sample college essays from 11 different schools. Finally, I'll break down two of these published college essay examples and explain why and how they work. With links to 177 full essays and essay excerpts , this article is a great resource for learning how to craft your own personal college admissions essay!

What Excellent College Essays Have in Common

Even though in many ways these sample college essays are very different from one other, they do share some traits you should try to emulate as you write your own essay.

Visible Signs of Planning

Building out from a narrow, concrete focus. You'll see a similar structure in many of the essays. The author starts with a very detailed story of an event or description of a person or place. After this sense-heavy imagery, the essay expands out to make a broader point about the author, and connects this very memorable experience to the author's present situation, state of mind, newfound understanding, or maturity level.

Knowing how to tell a story. Some of the experiences in these essays are one-of-a-kind. But most deal with the stuff of everyday life. What sets them apart is the way the author approaches the topic: analyzing it for drama and humor, for its moving qualities, for what it says about the author's world, and for how it connects to the author's emotional life.

Stellar Execution

A killer first sentence. You've heard it before, and you'll hear it again: you have to suck the reader in, and the best place to do that is the first sentence. Great first sentences are punchy. They are like cliffhangers, setting up an exciting scene or an unusual situation with an unclear conclusion, in order to make the reader want to know more. Don't take my word for it—check out these 22 first sentences from Stanford applicants and tell me you don't want to read the rest of those essays to find out what happens!

A lively, individual voice. Writing is for readers. In this case, your reader is an admissions officer who has read thousands of essays before yours and will read thousands after. Your goal? Don't bore your reader. Use interesting descriptions, stay away from clichés, include your own offbeat observations—anything that makes this essay sounds like you and not like anyone else.

Technical correctness. No spelling mistakes, no grammar weirdness, no syntax issues, no punctuation snafus—each of these sample college essays has been formatted and proofread perfectly. If this kind of exactness is not your strong suit, you're in luck! All colleges advise applicants to have their essays looked over several times by parents, teachers, mentors, and anyone else who can spot a comma splice. Your essay must be your own work, but there is absolutely nothing wrong with getting help polishing it.

And if you need more guidance, connect with PrepScholar's expert admissions consultants . These expert writers know exactly what college admissions committees look for in an admissions essay and chan help you craft an essay that boosts your chances of getting into your dream school.

Check out PrepScholar's Essay Editing and Coaching progra m for more details!

Links to Full College Essay Examples

Some colleges publish a selection of their favorite accepted college essays that worked, and I've put together a selection of over 100 of these.

Common App Essay Samples

Please note that some of these college essay examples may be responding to prompts that are no longer in use. The current Common App prompts are as follows:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. 2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? 3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? 4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you? 5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. 6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Now, let's get to the good stuff: the list of 177 college essay examples responding to current and past Common App essay prompts. 

Connecticut college.

• 12 Common Application essays from the classes of 2022-2025

Hamilton College

• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2026
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2022
• 7 Common Application essays from the class of 2018
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2012
• 8 Common Application essays from the class of 2007

Johns Hopkins

These essays are answers to past prompts from either the Common Application or the Coalition Application (which Johns Hopkins used to accept).

• 1 Common Application or Coalition Application essay from the class of 2026
• 6 Common Application or Coalition Application essays from the class of 2025
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2024
• 6 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2023
• 7 Common Application of Universal Application essays from the class of 2022
• 5 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2021
• 7 Common Application or Universal Application essays from the class of 2020

Essay Examples Published by Other Websites

• 2 Common Application essays ( 1st essay , 2nd essay ) from applicants admitted to Columbia

Other Sample College Essays

Here is a collection of essays that are college-specific.

Babson College

• 4 essays (and 1 video response) on "Why Babson" from the class of 2020

Emory University

• 5 essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) from the class of 2020 along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on why the essays were exceptional
• 5 more recent essay examples ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ) along with analysis from Emory admissions staff on what made these essays stand out

University of Georgia

• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2019
• 1 “strong essay” sample from 2018
• 10 Harvard essays from 2023
• 10 Harvard essays from 2022
• 10 Harvard essays from 2021
• 10 Harvard essays from 2020
• 10 Harvard essays from 2019
• 10 Harvard essays from 2018
• 6 essays from admitted MIT students

Smith College

• 6 "best gift" essays from the class of 2018

Books of College Essays

If you're looking for even more sample college essays, consider purchasing a college essay book. The best of these include dozens of essays that worked and feedback from real admissions officers.

College Essays That Made a Difference —This detailed guide from Princeton Review includes not only successful essays, but also interviews with admissions officers and full student profiles.

50 Successful Harvard Application Essays by the Staff of the Harvard Crimson—A must for anyone aspiring to Harvard .

50 Successful Ivy League Application Essays and 50 Successful Stanford Application Essays by Gen and Kelly Tanabe—For essays from other top schools, check out this venerated series, which is regularly updated with new essays.

Heavenly Essays by Janine W. Robinson—This collection from the popular blogger behind Essay Hell includes a wider range of schools, as well as helpful tips on honing your own essay.

Analyzing Great Common App Essays That Worked

I've picked two essays from the examples collected above to examine in more depth so that you can see exactly what makes a successful college essay work. Full credit for these essays goes to the original authors and the schools that published them.

Example 1: "Breaking Into Cars," by Stephen, Johns Hopkins Class of '19 (Common App Essay, 636 words long)

I had never broken into a car before.

We were in Laredo, having just finished our first day at a Habitat for Humanity work site. The Hotchkiss volunteers had already left, off to enjoy some Texas BBQ, leaving me behind with the college kids to clean up. Not until we were stranded did we realize we were locked out of the van.

Someone picked a coat hanger out of the dumpster, handed it to me, and took a few steps back.

"Can you do that thing with a coat hanger to unlock it?"

"Why me?" I thought.

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame. Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally. My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed. "The water's on fire! Clear a hole!" he shouted, tossing me in the lake without warning. While I'm still unconvinced about that particular lesson's practicality, my Dad's overarching message is unequivocally true: much of life is unexpected, and you have to deal with the twists and turns.

Living in my family, days rarely unfolded as planned. A bit overlooked, a little pushed around, I learned to roll with reality, negotiate a quick deal, and give the improbable a try. I don't sweat the small stuff, and I definitely don't expect perfect fairness. So what if our dining room table only has six chairs for seven people? Someone learns the importance of punctuality every night.

But more than punctuality and a special affinity for musical chairs, my family life has taught me to thrive in situations over which I have no power. Growing up, I never controlled my older siblings, but I learned how to thwart their attempts to control me. I forged alliances, and realigned them as necessary. Sometimes, I was the poor, defenseless little brother; sometimes I was the omniscient elder. Different things to different people, as the situation demanded. I learned to adapt.

Back then, these techniques were merely reactions undertaken to ensure my survival. But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The question caught me off guard, much like the question posed to me in Laredo. Then, I realized I knew the answer. I knew why the coat hanger had been handed to me.

Growing up as the middle child in my family, I was a vital participant in a thing I did not govern, in the company of people I did not choose. It's family. It's society. And often, it's chaos. You participate by letting go of the small stuff, not expecting order and perfection, and facing the unexpected with confidence, optimism, and preparedness. My family experience taught me to face a serendipitous world with confidence.

What Makes This Essay Tick?

It's very helpful to take writing apart in order to see just how it accomplishes its objectives. Stephen's essay is very effective. Let's find out why!

An Opening Line That Draws You In

In just eight words, we get: scene-setting (he is standing next to a car about to break in), the idea of crossing a boundary (he is maybe about to do an illegal thing for the first time), and a cliffhanger (we are thinking: is he going to get caught? Is he headed for a life of crime? Is he about to be scared straight?).

Great, Detailed Opening Story

More out of amusement than optimism, I gave it a try. I slid the hanger into the window's seal like I'd seen on crime shows, and spent a few minutes jiggling the apparatus around the inside of the frame.

It's the details that really make this small experience come alive. Notice how whenever he can, Stephen uses a more specific, descriptive word in place of a more generic one. The volunteers aren't going to get food or dinner; they're going for "Texas BBQ." The coat hanger comes from "a dumpster." Stephen doesn't just move the coat hanger—he "jiggles" it.

Details also help us visualize the emotions of the people in the scene. The person who hands Stephen the coat hanger isn't just uncomfortable or nervous; he "takes a few steps back"—a description of movement that conveys feelings. Finally, the detail of actual speech makes the scene pop. Instead of writing that the other guy asked him to unlock the van, Stephen has the guy actually say his own words in a way that sounds like a teenager talking.

Turning a Specific Incident Into a Deeper Insight

Suddenly, two things simultaneously clicked. One was the lock on the door. (I actually succeeded in springing it.) The other was the realization that I'd been in this type of situation before. In fact, I'd been born into this type of situation.

Stephen makes the locked car experience a meaningful illustration of how he has learned to be resourceful and ready for anything, and he also makes this turn from the specific to the broad through an elegant play on the two meanings of the word "click."

Using Concrete Examples When Making Abstract Claims

My upbringing has numbed me to unpredictability and chaos. With a family of seven, my home was loud, messy, and spottily supervised. My siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing—all meant my house was functioning normally.

"Unpredictability and chaos" are very abstract, not easily visualized concepts. They could also mean any number of things—violence, abandonment, poverty, mental instability. By instantly following up with highly finite and unambiguous illustrations like "family of seven" and "siblings arguing, the dog barking, the phone ringing," Stephen grounds the abstraction in something that is easy to picture: a large, noisy family.

Using Small Bits of Humor and Casual Word Choice

My Dad, a retired Navy pilot, was away half the time. When he was home, he had a parenting style something like a drill sergeant. At the age of nine, I learned how to clear burning oil from the surface of water. My Dad considered this a critical life skill—you know, in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed.

Obviously, knowing how to clean burning oil is not high on the list of things every 9-year-old needs to know. To emphasize this, Stephen uses sarcasm by bringing up a situation that is clearly over-the-top: "in case my aircraft carrier should ever get torpedoed."

The humor also feels relaxed. Part of this is because he introduces it with the colloquial phrase "you know," so it sounds like he is talking to us in person. This approach also diffuses the potential discomfort of the reader with his father's strictness—since he is making jokes about it, clearly he is OK. Notice, though, that this doesn't occur very much in the essay. This helps keep the tone meaningful and serious rather than flippant.

An Ending That Stretches the Insight Into the Future

But one day this fall, Dr. Hicks, our Head of School, asked me a question that he hoped all seniors would reflect on throughout the year: "How can I participate in a thing I do not govern, in the company of people I did not choose?"

The ending of the essay reveals that Stephen's life has been one long preparation for the future. He has emerged from chaos and his dad's approach to parenting as a person who can thrive in a world that he can't control.

This connection of past experience to current maturity and self-knowledge is a key element in all successful personal essays. Colleges are very much looking for mature, self-aware applicants. These are the qualities of successful college students, who will be able to navigate the independence college classes require and the responsibility and quasi-adulthood of college life.

What Could This Essay Do Even Better?

Even the best essays aren't perfect, and even the world's greatest writers will tell you that writing is never "finished"—just "due." So what would we tweak in this essay if we could?

Replace some of the clichéd language. Stephen uses handy phrases like "twists and turns" and "don't sweat the small stuff" as a kind of shorthand for explaining his relationship to chaos and unpredictability. But using too many of these ready-made expressions runs the risk of clouding out your own voice and replacing it with something expected and boring.

Use another example from recent life. Stephen's first example (breaking into the van in Laredo) is a great illustration of being resourceful in an unexpected situation. But his essay also emphasizes that he "learned to adapt" by being "different things to different people." It would be great to see how this plays out outside his family, either in the situation in Laredo or another context.

Example 2: By Renner Kwittken, Tufts Class of '23 (Common App Essay, 645 words long)

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver. I saw it in my favorite book, Richard Scarry's "Cars and Trucks and Things That Go," and for some reason, I was absolutely obsessed with the idea of driving a giant pickle. Much to the discontent of my younger sister, I insisted that my parents read us that book as many nights as possible so we could find goldbug, a small little golden bug, on every page. I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Then I discovered a real goldbug: gold nanoparticles that can reprogram macrophages to assist in killing tumors, produce clear images of them without sacrificing the subject, and heat them to obliteration.

Suddenly the destination of my pickle was clear.

I quickly became enveloped by the world of nanomedicine; I scoured articles about liposomes, polymeric micelles, dendrimers, targeting ligands, and self-assembling nanoparticles, all conquering cancer in some exotic way. Completely absorbed, I set out to find a mentor to dive even deeper into these topics. After several rejections, I was immensely grateful to receive an invitation to work alongside Dr. Sangeeta Ray at Johns Hopkins.

In the lab, Dr. Ray encouraged a great amount of autonomy to design and implement my own procedures. I chose to attack a problem that affects the entire field of nanomedicine: nanoparticles consistently fail to translate from animal studies into clinical trials. Jumping off recent literature, I set out to see if a pre-dose of a common chemotherapeutic could enhance nanoparticle delivery in aggressive prostate cancer, creating three novel constructs based on three different linear polymers, each using fluorescent dye (although no gold, sorry goldbug!). Though using radioactive isotopes like Gallium and Yttrium would have been incredible, as a 17-year-old, I unfortunately wasn't allowed in the same room as these radioactive materials (even though I took a Geiger counter to a pair of shoes and found them to be slightly dangerous).

I hadn't expected my hypothesis to work, as the research project would have ideally been led across two full years. Yet while there are still many optimizations and revisions to be done, I was thrilled to find -- with completely new nanoparticles that may one day mean future trials will use particles with the initials "RK-1" -- thatcyclophosphamide did indeed increase nanoparticle delivery to the tumor in a statistically significant way.

A secondary, unexpected research project was living alone in Baltimore, a new city to me, surrounded by people much older than I. Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research. Whether in a presentation or in a casual conversation, making others interested in science is perhaps more exciting to me than the research itself. This solidified a new pursuit to angle my love for writing towards illuminating science in ways people can understand, adding value to a society that can certainly benefit from more scientific literacy.

It seems fitting that my goals are still transforming: in Scarry's book, there is not just one goldbug, there is one on every page. With each new experience, I'm learning that it isn't the goldbug itself, but rather the act of searching for the goldbugs that will encourage, shape, and refine my ever-evolving passions. Regardless of the goldbug I seek -- I know my pickle truck has just begun its journey.

Renner takes a somewhat different approach than Stephen, but their essay is just as detailed and engaging. Let's go through some of the strengths of this essay.

One Clear Governing Metaphor

This essay is ultimately about two things: Renner’s dreams and future career goals, and Renner’s philosophy on goal-setting and achieving one’s dreams.

But instead of listing off all the amazing things they’ve done to pursue their dream of working in nanomedicine, Renner tells a powerful, unique story instead. To set up the narrative, Renner opens the essay by connecting their experiences with goal-setting and dream-chasing all the way back to a memorable childhood experience:

This lighthearted–but relevant!--story about the moment when Renner first developed a passion for a specific career (“finding the goldbug”) provides an anchor point for the rest of the essay. As Renner pivots to describing their current dreams and goals–working in nanomedicine–the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” is reflected in Renner’s experiments, rejections, and new discoveries.

Though Renner tells multiple stories about their quest to “find the goldbug,” or, in other words, pursue their passion, each story is connected by a unifying theme; namely, that as we search and grow over time, our goals will transform…and that’s okay! By the end of the essay, Renner uses the metaphor of “finding the goldbug” to reiterate the relevance of the opening story:

While the earlier parts of the essay convey Renner’s core message by showing, the final, concluding paragraph sums up Renner’s insights by telling. By briefly and clearly stating the relevance of the goldbug metaphor to their own philosophy on goals and dreams, Renner demonstrates their creativity, insight, and eagerness to grow and evolve as the journey continues into college.

An Engaging, Individual Voice

This essay uses many techniques that make Renner sound genuine and make the reader feel like we already know them.

Technique #1: humor. Notice Renner's gentle and relaxed humor that lightly mocks their younger self's grand ambitions (this is different from the more sarcastic kind of humor used by Stephen in the first essay—you could never mistake one writer for the other).

My first dream job was to be a pickle truck driver.

I would imagine the wonderful life I would have: being a pig driving a giant pickle truck across the country, chasing and finding goldbug. I then moved on to wanting to be a Lego Master. Then an architect. Then a surgeon.

Renner gives a great example of how to use humor to your advantage in college essays. You don’t want to come off as too self-deprecating or sarcastic, but telling a lightheartedly humorous story about your younger self that also showcases how you’ve grown and changed over time can set the right tone for your entire essay.

Technique #2: intentional, eye-catching structure. The second technique is the way Renner uses a unique structure to bolster the tone and themes of their essay . The structure of your essay can have a major impact on how your ideas come across…so it’s important to give it just as much thought as the content of your essay!

For instance, Renner does a great job of using one-line paragraphs to create dramatic emphasis and to make clear transitions from one phase of the story to the next:

Suddenly the destination of my pickle car was clear.

Not only does the one-liner above signal that Renner is moving into a new phase of the narrative (their nanoparticle research experiences), it also tells the reader that this is a big moment in Renner’s story. It’s clear that Renner made a major discovery that changed the course of their goal pursuit and dream-chasing. Through structure, Renner conveys excitement and entices the reader to keep pushing forward to the next part of the story.

Technique #3: playing with syntax. The third technique is to use sentences of varying length, syntax, and structure. Most of the essay's written in standard English and uses grammatically correct sentences. However, at key moments, Renner emphasizes that the reader needs to sit up and pay attention by switching to short, colloquial, differently punctuated, and sometimes fragmented sentences.

Even with moving frequently between hotels, AirBnB's, and students' apartments, I strangely reveled in the freedom I had to enjoy my surroundings and form new friendships with graduate school students from the lab. We explored The Inner Harbor at night, attended a concert together one weekend, and even got to watch the Orioles lose (to nobody's surprise). Ironically, it's through these new friendships I discovered something unexpected: what I truly love is sharing research.

In the examples above, Renner switches adeptly between long, flowing sentences and quippy, telegraphic ones. At the same time, Renner uses these different sentence lengths intentionally. As they describe their experiences in new places, they use longer sentences to immerse the reader in the sights, smells, and sounds of those experiences. And when it’s time to get a big, key idea across, Renner switches to a short, punchy sentence to stop the reader in their tracks.

The varying syntax and sentence lengths pull the reader into the narrative and set up crucial “aha” moments when it’s most important…which is a surefire way to make any college essay stand out.

Renner's essay is very strong, but there are still a few little things that could be improved.

Connecting the research experiences to the theme of “finding the goldbug.”  The essay begins and ends with Renner’s connection to the idea of “finding the goldbug.” And while this metaphor is deftly tied into the essay’s intro and conclusion, it isn’t entirely clear what Renner’s big findings were during the research experiences that are described in the middle of the essay. It would be great to add a sentence or two stating what Renner’s big takeaways (or “goldbugs”) were from these experiences, which add more cohesion to the essay as a whole.

Give more details about discovering the world of nanomedicine. It makes sense that Renner wants to get into the details of their big research experiences as quickly as possible. After all, these are the details that show Renner’s dedication to nanomedicine! But a smoother transition from the opening pickle car/goldbug story to Renner’s “real goldbug” of nanoparticles would help the reader understand why nanoparticles became Renner’s goldbug. Finding out why Renner is so motivated to study nanomedicine–and perhaps what put them on to this field of study–would help readers fully understand why Renner chose this path in the first place.

4 Essential Tips for Writing Your Own Essay

How can you use this discussion to better your own college essay? Here are some suggestions for ways to use this resource effectively.

#1: Get Help From the Experts

Getting your college applications together takes a lot of work and can be pretty intimidatin g. Essays are even more important than ever now that admissions processes are changing and schools are going test-optional and removing diversity standards thanks to new Supreme Court rulings .  If you want certified expert help that really makes a difference, get started with  PrepScholar’s Essay Editing and Coaching program. Our program can help you put together an incredible essay from idea to completion so that your application stands out from the crowd. We've helped students get into the best colleges in the United States, including Harvard, Stanford, and Yale.  If you're ready to take the next step and boost your odds of getting into your dream school, connect with our experts today .

#2: Read Other Essays to Get Ideas for Your Own

As you go through the essays we've compiled for you above, ask yourself the following questions:

• Can you explain to yourself (or someone else!) why the opening sentence works well?
• Look for the essay's detailed personal anecdote. What senses is the author describing? Can you easily picture the scene in your mind's eye?
• Find the place where this anecdote bridges into a larger insight about the author. How does the essay connect the two? How does the anecdote work as an example of the author's characteristic, trait, or skill?
• Check out the essay's tone. If it's funny, can you find the places where the humor comes from? If it's sad and moving, can you find the imagery and description of feelings that make you moved? If it's serious, can you see how word choice adds to this tone?

Make a note whenever you find an essay or part of an essay that you think was particularly well-written, and think about what you like about it . Is it funny? Does it help you really get to know the writer? Does it show what makes the writer unique? Once you have your list, keep it next to you while writing your essay to remind yourself to try and use those same techniques in your own essay.

#3: Find Your "A-Ha!" Moment

All of these essays rely on connecting with the reader through a heartfelt, highly descriptive scene from the author's life. It can either be very dramatic (did you survive a plane crash?) or it can be completely mundane (did you finally beat your dad at Scrabble?). Either way, it should be personal and revealing about you, your personality, and the way you are now that you are entering the adult world.

Check out essays by authors like John Jeremiah Sullivan , Leslie Jamison , Hanif Abdurraqib , and Esmé Weijun Wang to get more examples of how to craft a compelling personal narrative.

#4: Start Early, Revise Often

Let me level with you: the best writing isn't writing at all. It's rewriting. And in order to have time to rewrite, you have to start way before the application deadline. My advice is to write your first draft at least two months before your applications are due.

Let it sit for a few days untouched. Then come back to it with fresh eyes and think critically about what you've written. What's extra? What's missing? What is in the wrong place? What doesn't make sense? Don't be afraid to take it apart and rearrange sections. Do this several times over, and your essay will be much better for it!

For more editing tips, check out a style guide like Dreyer's English or Eats, Shoots & Leaves .

What's Next?

Still not sure which colleges you want to apply to? Our experts will show you how to make a college list that will help you choose a college that's right for you.

Interested in learning more about college essays? Check out our detailed breakdown of exactly how personal statements work in an application , some suggestions on what to avoid when writing your essay , and our guide to writing about your extracurricular activities .

Working on the rest of your application? Read what admissions officers wish applicants knew before applying .

The recommendations in this post are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Anna scored in the 99th percentile on her SATs in high school, and went on to major in English at Princeton and to get her doctorate in English Literature at Columbia. She is passionate about improving student access to higher education.

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Describe a gift you have received that was important to you, describe a gift you have received that was important to you..

• who gave it to you and on what occasion
• what it looked like and how you used it
• when you received it

Idea Generation for this Cue Card / Candidate Task Card Topic:

• A birthday gift you got from one of your family members. 
• A computer/ laptop/ mobile phone that you got as a gift from your parents.
• A gift that a teacher gave to you. 
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• Any electronic device that you got as a gift. 
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• A piece of furniture or an ornament. 
• A car, house, prize bond etc.  

Useful Vocabulary for describing this Cue Card: 

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• Occasion Synonyms: Event, celebration, party, moment, time, instance, affair, function,
• Looks like Synonyms: Appearance, resembles. 
• Describe something you own which is important to you.
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The 35 Best Gifts for Writers, According to, Well, Writers

By Sarah Madaus

If you have a writer in your life, you know that writing is the activity that brings them equal amounts of joy and dread. The best gifts for writers exist to make the joyful part even sweeter and the dreadful part a little less so. Sometimes the solution to helping a writer produce their best work is nixing an uncomfortable desk chair , upgrading their crusty headphones from 2013, receiving a meal kit to make cooking less time-consuming, or giving them a motivational journal to write in. And who better to present you with writerly gift ideas than staffers at a magazine? 

Whether they're an aspiring writer, a full-time one, or just a habitual journal-er, finding a present that relates to their passion almost guarantees that it'll be appreciated—and actually used. We're slowly closing in on the start of the holiday season, so corralling your gifts now means you have less to stress about when the season does arrive, and more time to think about what matters: Family , friends, and whatever the news cycle has for us.

Below, we've rounded up the best gifts for writers to peruse ahead of the holidays because it's never too early. We've included practical gifts to aid their writing process (like some of our favorite pens and laptop stands), self-care essentials to soothe their mind and body, and items to get the creative juices flowing (like a MasterClass subscription and book of writing prompts). No matter what kind of writer they are, you’re sure to find something on this list that fits.

For more present picks, check out all of the best gift ideas of 2022 .

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Bose Noise-Cancelling Headphones 700

When it comes to writing, reaching a flow state is key—and often quite difficult. A pair of top-rated noise-cancelling headphones like these from Bose (which several SELF editors own) can be used to block out distractions or pipe in calming beats . These connect through Bluetooth, so they won't have to worry about unruly wires.

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This pretty, space-saving roll-up has one large pocket and two smaller ones to stash and organize all of their chargers, pens, earbuds , and the like. It comes in seven jewel-tone color options, and you can add their monogram for a personalized touch.

Zebra Mildliner Dual-Tip Creative Marker

SELF's editor-in-chief Rachel Wilkerson-Miller likes using these bright, colorful pens to make writing in her planner and journal more vibrant. These have fine tips that work for adding splashes of color to their compositions, but they are also versatile enough to use for filling in those adult coloring books .

Ember Mug² Temperature Control Smart Mug

This self-heating, rechargeable smart coffee mug is our senior commerce writer Sara Coughlin's morning go-to . After initial reluctance to try the elaborate mug, she now recommends it enthusiastically, writing, “If you’re someone who knows that tea and coffee have their own sacred temperatures or hate coming back to a tepid drink after briefly leaving it alone, this could make an excellent treat for yourself.”

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Cost: Gift subscriptions start at $40 for two bags.

642 Tiny Things to Write About by the San Fransisco Writers' Grotto

For any creative writer who could use a touch of inspiration (or a cure for writer's block), this miniature book has 642 potential solutions. Each of the writing prompts asks for bite-sized answers that spark larger storylines. Take these two examples: “Boil down Hamlet , Shakespeare's longest play, into a tweet,” and “Describe your first kiss. Describe your most recent kiss. Describe your next kiss.”

Everlane The Felted Merino Half-Zip Sweater

What's a voracious author without a signature look? This oversized wool half-zip is snuggly enough for cold-weather layering and gives a writerly, bookish vibe.

Available in sizes XXS to XL.

Fringe x Megan Galante Odette Pencil Pouch

Anthropologie

This roomy pencil case, conceptualized by an artist and textile designer, is a nice gift for writers of all ages (not just grade-school ones). For an extra touch, fill up the pencil case with their favorite pens, pencils, highlighters, and a surprise note.

Airbnb Gift Card

If their local coffee shop isn't inspiring them the way it used to, an Airbnb gift card can pay for a solo weekend writer's retreat to a cabin in the mountains, lakeside A-frame, bright beach home, or even a potential setting for their novel.

Madewell The Canvas Transport Carryall Tote Bag

A handsome tote makes schlepping their laptop, writing accessories, latest read , snacks, and headphones a little bit easier. It's made of canvas with leather straps and has a small internal pocket so they won't have to fish around for their keys and cards.

Papier Scallop Spine Daily Planner

This undated, 16-week daily planner makes a thoughtful gift for any writer who could benefit from a place to keep their thoughts, deadlines, and the rest of their life organized . It features a mind map page, plus goal setting and reflection, and spots for each day and week. Since it's undated, they can start anytime throughout the year (or even use it as a journal).

Muji Gel Ink Cap Type Ballpoint Pen

Sorry not sorry, but sometimes a basic set of pens is more practical than a fountain pen. (And this is coming from an avid writer!) This pen from Muji comes recommended by Condé Nast staffer and "chronic journal-er" Soleil Summer, who says, “They’re affordable, straightforward, and they dry relatively quickly on most kinds of paper/finishes. The ink is quite consistent as well.”

Byredo Bibliothèque Candle

A candle that channels the scent of their favorite library—old books, dog-eared pages, worn leather, and smooth paper—is one of the best writing gifts you can give. It has warm notes of plum, pear, vanilla, leather, and patchouli to accompany and inspire their late-night scrawling.

Nekteck Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager

The future best-selling author in your life likely needs some neck and shoulder relief after hunching over their computer all day. We love this space-saving massager , which has eight kneading nodes and a function to add soothing heat. They can also wear it while they work.

MasterClass Gift Card

MasterClass

With a gift card to MasterClass, they can get all kinds of screenwriting, essay tips, and creative writing advice from writers like Judy Blume (pictured above), R.L. Stine, Roxane Gay, and Dan Brown. You can choose from a few different gift options , with plans starting at $10 per month.

Vitruvi Cozy Bundle Stone Diffuser and Kit

Essential oils can help relax, uplift, soothe, and inspire—and they smell good. This diffuser and oil set from Vitruvi doubles as decor and comes with four “cozy-inspired" oils for grounding, comforting, and refreshing the writer on your list.

Cushion Lab Patented Pressure Relief Seat Cushion

Lumbar pain does not fuel authors to successfully write the next great American novel, as far as we know. This season, gift them this handy ergonomic pillow that transforms any old chair into one that cradles their hips and thighs, making prolonged sitting a bit more tolerable. (They should still get up and stretch though.)

iDiskk Auto-Timer Cell Phone Lock Box

A phone lockbox is the perfect gift for anyone who, when faced with writer's block or impending deadlines, tends to pick up their phone and doomscroll on social media . It has an automatic timer (from 1 minute up to 99 hours) and holes for emergency calls and sending messages.

Rocketbook Smart Reusable Notebook

While we do love a good leather journal , there's something to be said for a reusable notebook that sends their scrawls straight to their phone, tablet, or computer. This innovative 32-page notebook is compatible with Pilot Frixion pens and wipes clean with a cloth after they transfer their short stories.

Brooklinen Super-Plush Robe

A fluffy terry bathrobe will keep them company, whether they're writing at dawn or into the night. Brooklinen's Turkish cotton feels delightfully spa-like , with adjustable sleeves (important to keep from getting in the way of their typing) and roomy pockets.

Maude Tub Kit No. 1 Bath Salts & Coconut Milk Bath Soak Set

Encourage self-care with a set of soothing bath salts and soaks scented with warming notes of amber, cedar leaf, lemongrass, and tonka bean. Add a Kindle to the mix, which is waterproof, so they can read while they rest.

Ameriergo Under-Desk Foot Rest

SELF's associate special projects director Hannah Pasternak, who moonlights as an avid writer, recommends a rounded foot cushion like this soft, adjustable one. “My foot cushion; what would I do without thee?” she says. “It helps me stay really physically comfortable—otherwise my knees get achy and my legs get almost swollen-feeling.”

Rite in the Rain All-Weather Top-Spiral Notebook

Here's a waterproof notepad to ensure that their brilliant shower thoughts (or hiking thoughts) get written down upon ideation.

Home Chef Gift Subscription

Meal kits ensure that even the busiest folks have time to eat nourishing, home-cooked meals. Thankfully there is no shortage of kits out there, but how do you know which one is best for the busy writer in your life? Home Chef was praised by our commerce editor —who is also a writer—for its convenience (pre-portioned ingredients), overall ease (everything is thrown together in 30 minutes or less), and taste. 

Cost: Meals start at $7 per serving (choose from two or four servings) and can even be customized for an additional fee; different meal options are available on the site . Delivery is free for orders over $49 and $10 for anything less than that amount.

Most Modest Cody Desktop Organizer

Here's a minimalist organizer for all their writing tchotchkes. It keeps everything arranged at eye level so they don't have to rifle around their desk drawers for a pen. 

Pilot G2 Premium Refillable & Retractable Rolling Ball Gel Pens

Widely hailed on the internet as the best pen, the Pilot G2 rollerball has generated an impressive online fandom —and for good reason. This pen writes smoothly, doesn't smudge (left-handed people, rejoice!), and is long-lasting. Chances are your writer friend already has one, but you know they'll need a restock eventually.

Yamazaki Round Headphone Stand

An organized, clear desk might help them stay on-task if they're working under a deadline. This streamlined, Japanese-designed headphone stand keeps their favorite pair close by and ensures that they don't get knotted, bent, or broken.

Rain Design iLevel2 Adjustable Height Laptop Stand

One SELF staffer has relied on this laptop stand for working from home. It props your computer at an angle that's easy on your neck and eyes, and it has a slider to make angling the elevation seamless.

Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth Vacuum Water Bottle with Flex Cap

Staying hydrated might be one of the most annoying things writers have to keep up with (so many trips to the bathroom!), but that doesn't mean it isn't literally essential to their well-being. A no-frills insulated water bottle is a nice gift—even better if it comes with a call from you every hour to remind them to take a sip. Kidding. Please don't do that. 

Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro

Our SELF commerce editor Malia Griggs loves this magnetic keyboard that attaches to her iPad: “It transforms my iPad into something I can take to coffee shops to work and write. It's sleek, well-designed, and it has a trackpad." It doubles as a protective case too.

Branch Ergonomic Chair

To go along with their stately writer's desk (or nook), a highly ergonomic chair is a must. Branch's is a rare combination of aesthetically pleasing and functional. It offers eight points of adjustment for even the most finicky of sitters, a contoured upper backrest, and firm lumbar support.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask

When they're exhausted, doing a skin care routine might be close to the last thing on their mind—if not the last. This overnight face mask from Kiehl's is this SELF's commerce writer's go-to hydrating product for late nights. I've written previously that this mask “exists to ensure your tired, hungover skin never sees the light of day.” Plus, after cleansing, it's the only product your friend needs to bother slathering on before they hit the hay.

Caraway Whistling Tea Kettle

Hot tea and coffee are essential writing accessories. In order to make their perfect brew, they'll need a kettle that's up to the task. Our hot take is that whistling stovetop teapots are better (and way cuter) than trendy electric options. This one from Caraway comes in a handful of cottagecore-esque hues that will make them want to show it off in their kitchen. 

Book of the Month Club Gift Subscription

Book of the Month

Chances are, your writer is a book lover . To keep their vocabulary in tip-top shape, hone their unique writing style, and help them craft their own characters and storylines, a Book of the Month Club subscription makes a great gift. The book club allows them to choose hardcovers or paperbacks from a selection of five books every month.

Cost: A 3-month gift subscription is $50; 6 months is $100; 1 year is $180.

Grammarly Subscription

A little known fact is that the Beatles hit  “With a Little Help From My Friends” is actually about writers and their relationship with Grammarly. (Kidding.) The helpful AI service gives corrections and tips for optimizing and editing writing , from sentence structure to word choice. Though Grammarly doesn't offer gift cards, you can purchase Grammarly Premium on their behalf for total access to the company's helpful services.

SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional.

The Best Gift You Ever Received Essay Example

• Pages: 2 (296 words)
• Published: February 4, 2017
• Type: Essay

What is the best groomsmen gift you ever received?

Every year, I always receive a lot of gifts from my parents and friends on my birthday. But last year, I received a special gift from my best friend. It was my birthday. I was presented many colourful and expensive gifts. But my best friend did not give me a gift like that. She gave me a small blue box and said that: “This is my special gift for you. I hope you will like it. ” I was very curious about what was in the box. I opened it.

A special gift I received

It was a scarf! But it was not colourful, it was blue and white which were my favourite colours. It was not a normal scarf which was

bought from the shop but it was made by my friend. She bought many balls of wool and learned how to knit. She tried her best to make a special gift for me. I knew that she had had much ado and time to finish kniting the scarf . Although it was not beautiful, I was happy and promise her treasure it.

However, it was also the last gift from my best friend. Two months later, she had to move to another country with her family. I was very upset when I knew that. When it is cold, this scarf is very useful for me. It is warmer than other scarfs because it is warm not only by keeping my normothermia but also by our friendship. On my next birthdays, I know that I will receive many beautiful gifts but I alway

believe that this scarf is the best gift I ever received.

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Expanded Edition

By marcel mauss.

Selected, Annotated, and Translated by Jane I. Guyer

Scan down a list of essential works in any introduction to anthropology course and you are likely to see Marcel Mauss’ masterpiece, The Gift . With this new translation, Mauss’ classic essay is returned to its original context, published alongside the works that framed its first publication in the 1923–24 issue of L’Année Sociologique . With a critical foreword by Bill Maurer and a new introduction by translator Jane Guyer, this expanded edition is certain to become the standard English version of the essay—a gift that keeps on giving.

“The Gift is like a river that carries an immense mass of facts set in motion by Mauss’ vision. Guyer proves to be a skilled guide in navigating its perilous currents by giving us a nuanced translation that explores the text’s most secluded coves.”

— Maurice Godelier, author of The Enigma of the Gift

“Marcel Mauss wrote The Gift to refute the contrast between free gifts and self-interested markets. Yet, the opposition that he attacked—gift economy versus market economy—is often attributed to Mauss himself. Previous English translations were taken out of their historical context. Guyer has restored that context and has made the sociological argument more explicit. This long overdue publication will transform the essay’s reception, and stands to correct a text whose fame far surpasses most readers’ grasp of its meaning.”

— Keith Hart, author of The Memory Bank: Money in an Unequal World

“Not only is Guyer extremely attentive to the wealth of connotations stirred by every word, in every language; she is also attuned to understanding Mauss’ essay in the context in which it was written. This gives the reader the sense that Mauss is finally grasped fully—as an inexhaustible source of inspiration.”

— Alain Caillé, author of The World of the Gift (with Jacques Godbout) and editor of Revue du MAUSS

“The Gift is surely the most misunderstood work in the history of anthropology. Marcel Mauss is not entirely without blame for this. It is a work of notoriously scattershot brilliance; but, as a result, the essay has become a kind of screen for the projection of every sort of fantasy. Guyer’s excellent new edition will go a long way towards finally straightening matters out. There are endless riches here. But finally they are also in a form where we can see exactly what we’re being given.”

— David Graeber, author of Debt: The First 5,000 Years

Marcel Mauss (1872–1950) was a French sociologist and founding figure in anthropology. His widely-cited and influential writings have inspired generations scholars across the disciplines.

Jane I. Guyer is the George Armstrong Kelly Professor Emerita in the Department of Anthropology at Johns Hopkins University.

Published 2016

Price: $17.00.

Buy This Book

Download PDF

Foreword: Puzzles and Pathways, by Bill Maurer

Translator’s Introduction: The Gift that Keeps on Giving, by Jane I. Guyer

Part I: In Memoriam

In Memoriam: The Unpublished Work of Durkheim and His Collaborators

Part II: Essay on the Gift: The Form and Sense of Exchange in Archaic Societies

Introduction: Of the Gift, and in Particular of the Obligation to Return Presents

Chapter 1: The Gifts Exchanged and the Obligation to Return Them (Polynesia)

Chapter 2: The Extent of This System: Liberality, Honor, Money

Chapter 3: Survivals of These Principles in Ancient Law and Ancient Economies

Chapter 4: Conclusion

Part III: Selected Reviews

A Selection of Reviews by Marcel Mauss

Excerpts from reviews of The Gift: Expanded Edition

Hann, Chris. 2016. “ Can the Gift Be Sponsored ?” Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute 22 (4): 984–89.

“Among the most welcome features of this third English translation of Mauss’s classic is Jane Guyer’s decision to re-embed the Essai sur le don: forme et raison de l’échange dans les sociétés archaiques in its original setting in the journal L’Année Sociologique as published in 1925. Her translation and discussion of some of the original framing materials . . . demonstrate more effectively than the earlier English editions both the significance of the timing of this publication in the aftermath of the Great War and its centrality to the Durkheimian school. It was not possible to include all of the voluminous book reviews, and some of the excerpts are extremely brief, but, with the help of research assistants, Guyer has managed to track down the original English of most of Mauss’s quotations. Unlike previous translators, she contributes a substantial introduction, in which she elaborates on the difficulties of rendering Mauss’s text in English. . . .

“So, why are the works of Mauss and Durkheim, and this text in particular, still so important to the anthropological canon almost a century after they were written? Part of the explanation is surely that, in an age of ferocious specialization, we respect the old-fashioned polymath who can glide so easily from philology to legal history and, following numerous ethnographic detours, end up with profound social commentary on his contemporary world. The more important raison must be that, however different our moment in history, that commentary is still relevant. Mauss’s onslaught on the individualism of Anglo-Saxon liberalism offers a different view of human sociality, one that should be recovered today. Like Douglas, he is adamant that the gift economy has not disappeared in industrial society, though we may misrecognize its forms. It just needs to be reinvigorated. Although Mauss never employed the term ‘moral economy’, in contemporary jargon we might say that this is what he and the other Durkheimians were pursuing.”

Goodman, Zoë. 2016. “ What’s the Point of the ‘Mauss Haus’? The Gift and Anthropology Today .”  Focalblog (June 16).

“Guyer’s journey with The Gift began with a realization of the striking difference in size between the first English translation (Mauss, trans. Cunnison 1954) and the original publication in  L’Année sociologique (Mauss 1925). What had been left out of the significantly thinner translation? The original, Guyer discovered, published to mark the relaunching of L’Année after the hiatus of World War I, started with a memorial to deceased colleagues and students (many of whom died in battle) and ended with an extensive review section (addressing the works of Malinowski, Radcliffe-Brown, and Boas, among others), much of it written by Mauss. Guyer’s decision to produce a new translation arose from a conviction that this contextualization—particularly the memorial and select reviews from Mauss—is critical for understanding The Gift   itself.

“Mauss, Guyer argues, was writing out of an urgent need to find inspiration from other parts of the world, that Europeans might learn “to confront one another without massacring each other” (2016: 197). The new translation thus importantly changes the emphasis within the text. What was a round-the-world-ticket collection of notable instances of exchange—the accuracy and veracity of which have already been endlessly debated—emerges as a passionate political treatise written at a poignant moment in European history.”

Hicks, Dan. 2016. “ The Return of Ethnographic Theory: HAU and When. ”  Anthropology Today  32 (3): 22.

“When is ethnographic theory? At a time at which so much of our theoretical development involves rethinking our disciplinary past, our answer might involve a kind of museum archaeology. Just as the archaeologist understands a museum object as the duration of an idea, so too anthropological knowledge can be conceived as a form of revisitation: a mediated, political and transformative return (Hicks 2016). In 1972, Marshall Sahlins wrote that Mauss’s Essay  ‘remains a source of an unending ponderation for the anthropologist du metier, compelled as if by the hau of the thing to come back to it again and again’ (Sahlins 1972: 149). Today, we might use Mauss’s account of archaism to reimagine residuality and reciprocity. Mauss and Guyer show us that the translator is always both donor and recipient. There is a force, just like the force in the gift, in anthropological knowledge. The return of ethnographic theory brings new obligations to our disciplinary past, through the fulfilment of which that past and our present become less stable than we might imagine.”

The Greatest Gift Philip Van Doren Stern

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The Greatest Gift Essays

45 Best Graduation Gifts for Him That Are Unique and Sentimental

By Marilyn La Jeunesse

After years of long nights, countless tests and essays, and hundreds of hours dedicated to studying, your guy is finally graduating! To celebrate this momentous occasion, we rounded up the best grad gifts for him — that he’ll actually enjoy receiving.

From luxury graduation gifts to inexpensive finds, we've curated a list of 42 unique present ideas that he’s sure to love. If your boyfriend , brother, or best friend enjoys listening to music, get him a pair of elevated headphones that'll help him stay focused at his first adult-life job or throughout his gym workouts. Prefer to get him something a bit more sentimental? Opt for this gorgeous college class ring or this custom-engraved watch box .

We also watched plenty of TikTok videos and read through tons of customer reviews to find ideas that are truly worth the money (including last-minute gift picks on Amazon). So, if you're wondering if there is even such a thing as a cool graduation gift, the answer is yes, and we've got an awesome list of ideas to help you find the right one (or a few!).

So what are you waiting for?! Go beyond putting money in a card (though, that's still a great gift) with our favorite graduation gifts for guys, below.

Best Graduation Gifts for Him

• Best luxury gift: PR 100 Classic Bracelet Watch , $295
• Best inexpensive gift: Collegiate Sweater , $40
• Best high school gift: Ray-Ban Wayfarer , $180
• Best university graduation gift: Acqua di Gio Eau de Toilette Men's Fragrance , $136
• Best last-minute gift : Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker , $119

All products featured on Teen Vogue are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Best inexpensive gift: Collegiate Sweater

Celebrate your grad’s massive accomplishment with a brand new collegiate sweater. This hoodie will let them show off their pride and remind them of how proud you are every time they wear it.

Save on the best college graduation gifts for him with these Amazon promo codes .

Best luxury gift: PR 100 Classic Bracelet Watch

Mark this moment in time with a classic silver and blue watch from Tissot. Water and scratch resistant, this timepiece is a stylish way to celebrate your grad’s massive achievement.

Save on the best college graduation gifts for him with these Nordstrom promo codes .

Best high school gift: Ray-Ban Wayfarer

No one can deny the power of a good pair of sunglasses. These classic Ray-Bans feature glare-resistant polarized lenses and are always a popular choice among celebs .

Polaroid Go Generation 2 Instant Camera

Urban Outfitters

Help your grad capture all their favorite memories with a rechargeable Polaroid camera, complete with a selfie mirror and timer. Add a few rolls of film to the gift to make it extra special for them.

Save on the best college graduation gifts for him with these Urban Outfitters promo codes .

By Donya Momenian

By Ilana Kaplan

By Ashleigh Carter

Personalized Graduation Gift

This framed graduation lego is the perfect gift for people looking for something more personalized to gift their grad. You can customize the name, degree, university, date, and gender.

Save on the best college graduation gifts for him with these Etsy promo codes .

Logitech G535 Lightspeed Wireless Gaming Headset

Graduating gamers will thank you for investing in their favorite pastime when you give them these customer-loved wireless headset, complete with a flip-to-mute mic.

Best university graduation gift

This tech briefcase comes with a padded laptop sleeve, reinforced handles, and is a stylish way to lug around work laptops and college necessities.

Custom College Class Ring

If you’re looking for a more traditional graduation, this custom college class ring can be made in silver, rose gold, and gold to match your grad’s aesthetic.

YETI Rambler 14oz Stackable Mug

Perfect for coffee lovers, commuters, and campers alike, this insulated mug can keep hot liquids warm for nearly five hours and cold drinks cool for almost 12. It’s made with kitchen-grade stainless steel so it won’t puncture or rust and is dishwasher safe.

Best university graduation gift: Acqua di Gio Eau de Toilette Fragrance

With notes of bergamot, jasmine, cedarwood, and patchouli, this Armani fragrance smells exactly like a Greek vacation—graduation trip to Santorini not included.

Lululemon ABC Slim-Fit Trouser 32"L Warpstreme

TikTok is obsessed with these Lululemon trousers and with good reason. Not only are they super flattering and come with eleven colors, they are made with super breathable fabric that allows stretch without wrinkling.

Save on the best college graduation gifts for him with these Lululemon promo codes .

Novium Hoverpen 2.0 Interstellar Edition

This sleek, award-winning pen is the perfect centerpiece for any grad’s desk. It’s made with aircraft grade aluminum and was engineered to “defy gravity.” Its magnetic design allows it to rest at a 23.5 degree angle and spin on its pedestal.

Coach Boxed Double Billfold Wallet

Made of water buffalo leather, this stunning Coach wallet was designed to hold eight credit cards and comes with two separate bill compartments. It’s a luxurious way to say “congratulations” to your grad for all their hard work.

Nespresso Vertuo Next Coffee and Espresso Maker

One of the best instant coffee makers on the market, this Nespresso coffee maker is a great gift for grads headed to college. Not only will it help them save money on morning coffee runs, but it’ll get them through all their late nights without breaking the bank. Plus, it’s a must-have, according to TikTok girlfriends .

COSORI Air Fryer

Even a grad who hates cooking will love this air fryer. You can make dinosaur chicken nuggets, waffles, tater tots, pizza rolls, and all the best college food in an instant. (Can you tell we love ours?).

Herschel Supply Co. Chapter Dopp Kit

Hunting for a good gift for your college-bound grad? This Herschel bag is perfect for them to store all their dorm bathroom necessities. It’s made with a waterproof zipper and can easily be wiped clean.

Coach Gotham Backpack

This luxury grad gift for him is definitely on the pricier side of things, but think of it as an investment that will probably last him a lifetime. Made with pebble leather and refined calf leather, this Coach backpack can easily fit a 15” laptop and comes with so many pockets, he can carry everything he needs and more.

Best last-minute gift: Bose SoundLink Flex Bluetooth Speaker

Everyone deserves to have a good portable speaker in their life. This Bose Bluetooth speaker is wireless and waterproof so you can bring it to picnics, boat parties, and more.

Pikachu Graduation Card

This graduation card is a super sweet nod to your grads favorite childhood cartoon. Choose from Pikachu, Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Gengar, and Jigglypuff in a variety of finishes.

Nike Dunk Low Retro Basketball Shoe

If your grad is a sneakerhead, they’ll love these Nike Dunks with old school colorways, including the coveted pandas (trust us, these are hard to find and pretty much everyone wants them).

Lululemon 2-in-1 Travel Duffle Backpack 45L

This travel duffle is a great gift for gym rats and travelers alike. It comes in two colors, is made of water-resistant fabric, and can easily be held as a duffle or used as a backpack.

Meta Quest 2

Let your grad step into virtual reality with an Oculus Quest 2 headset. Complete with easy-to-use controllers, he can explore over 500 titles across a variety of genres, including video games and fitness.

HometownGiftsCo

Custom City Map

TikTok is obsessed with customized gifts and these college campus glasses are at the top of the list. They’re perfect for iced coffees and soda during late-night studying.

Urban Outfitters Gadhouse Cosmo Turntable

Music lovers are bound to love this nostalgic turntable that can play vinyl, bluetooth, and radio. It was designed with a USB port and SD card slot, built-in speakers, sound adjustment, and more. Add a few vinyls to the gift to make it even more special.

Let's Make Memories

Personalized Keepsake Box

Help your grad keep all their memories in one place with a customized keepsake box. It’s one of the most recommended gifts on TikTok that they’ll look back on their entire life.

Nutribullet Pro+ Personal Blender

This personal blender is a workhorse that can make juices, smoothies, shakes, and more in an instant. It’s super compact and can easily be stored away, making it perfect for dorms and smaller apartments.

July Carry On

Help your grad usher in their new chapter with a brand new suitcase. This customer-loved carry-on luggage comes with an ejectable battery, SilentMove wheels, a hidden stain-proof laundry bag, and leather finishes. Plus, it has a lifetime warranty!

TheraGun Relief Handheld Percussion Massage Gun

If your grad is an avid gym goer or athlete, they’ll love this handheld massager to help ease the stress and tension in their muscles. It’s said to give the benefits of a 15-minute massage in just 2 minutes—and has three different speeds.

LQWELL Projector

No room for a TV? No problem. This tiny projector instantly transforms any blank space into a screen. It’s perfect for studio apartments, dorms, and avid travelers.

Rocketbook Core Reusable Smart Notebook

This reusable notebook is one of the coolest gifts on this list. The eco-friendly product comes in sixteen colors and instantly converts your handwriting into digital text. After you upload your notes to the cloud, you can erase them and start anew.

Our Place Always Pan 2.0 Set

This Always Pan is the perfect gift for new grads headed to the dorms or those who just rented their first apartments. The non-stick frying and sauteing pan is made with recycled aluminum and comes with a beachwood spatula and strainer basket.

Hatch Restore 2

Honestly, what can’t this alarm clock do? Not only does it gently wake you up in the mornings, but it acts as a nighttime sound machine to help you quickly fall asleep—and stay asleep throughout the night. It’s a game changer for people who value their sleep.

Custom Engraved Watch Box

Looking for a more refined gift for your university grad? TikTok recommends buying him a watch box—it’s useful and something they’d rarely ever buy themselves. This handmade watch box can be engraved with their initials and will help keep all their favorite timepieces in pristine condition.

Cologne Sampler Set

This Sephora favorites cologne collection is perfect for the grad looking for a new scent to take with them into this new chapter. The TikTok-fave gift it comes with a coupon for a certificate for a free full size of their fave fragrance!

Save on the best college graduation gifts for him with these Sephora promo codes .

Tumi Delta ID Lock Shielded L-Fold ID Wallet

Help keep your new grad organized during all their travels with this handcrafted leather wallet that’s big enough to hold their passport, money, and cards. It’s made with ID Lock technology to help protect against electronic theft. Oh, did we mention TikTok loves a good passport protector ?

Brooklinen Classic Percale Hardcore Sheet Bundle

Help your grad catch up on much-needed sleep with a set up ultra-luxurious sheets. This set from Brooklinen only gets softer with time and comes in a variety of patterns and colors.

Save on the best college graduation gifts for him with these Brooklinen promo codes .

Personalized Headphone Stand

If your grad’s a gamer, they’ll absolutely love this headphone stand. Not only does it light up to match their gaming setup, it can be personalized with their name or gamertag for an extra special touch.

1:14 Scale Sports Car Building Blocks Set

Help your grad embrace their fave childhood pastime with this epic Lego set. Don’t worry, it’s TikTok-approved , so we know they’ll love it!

Phomemo M08F Portable Printers Wireless

Your grad will be super thankful you gifted them this Bluetooth compatible portable printer. It takes up barely any space and doesn’t require ink, toner, or anything else thanks to its thermal technology.

The Premier Package 5.0 Ultra Groin & Body Hair Trimmer

Sometimes the best gift is something your grad would never think to buy themselves, like this all-in-one grooming kit. TikTok swears by this product , which comes with a trimmer, sheers, tweezers, body wash, and so much more.

Butter Tufted Shag Rug

Another unique grad gift idea ( courtesy of TikTok no less ) is a funky rug that acts as a statement piece for a dorm room or first apartment. We’re particularly fond of this butter stick rug from Urban; it’s quite the conversation starter.

Jkuss Astronaut Light Projector

This gift is out of this world—metaphorically speaking anyways. The nebula light projector will bring the universe to you, instantly transforming any space into outer space.

CRAVEBOX Snack Box 50 Count

If your grad has a massive sweet tooth (guilty!), they’ll love this super nostalgic gift box filled with all their childhood snacks. It’s a super thoughtful way to show how well you know them and keep them fed after a grueling four years in school.

Best inexpensive gift

Sometimes the best gifts are the most practical. This magsafe battery pack is the easiest way to charge your phone on the go and is a great gift for guys who love to travel (or just landed a job that’ll keep them on the road).

Gucci Guilty Pour Homme Fragrance Set

Help your favorite guy start his new chapter off right with the perfect luxury scent. This Gucci fragrance scent smells like the most divine weekend in the south of France and comes in a spray, deodorant, and shower gel.

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More From Forbes

Mother’s day gift guide 2024: the best pét-nat sparkling wines.

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Pet-nats are natural sparkling wines that are increasingly popular with the cool kids of the wine ... [+] world. Fun, flavorful and often affordable, they're the perfect gift for Mother's Day.

Pét-Nats are sparkling natural wines. Their name is short for pétillant naturel and the best have refreshing fruit-forward flavors that are reminiscent of a mimosa and/or a barrel-aged beer such as a lambic. This makes them an excellent choice for a Mother’s Day gift. Because the yeast used for a secondary fermentation in pét-nats is not removed from the bottle they often have a cloudy appearance and can be less expensive to produce than Champagne, which means you can get a great pét-nat for less than a great Champagne (but you don’t have to tell mom that part). I have fallen in love with the style recently and have been doing my part to spread the pét-nat gospel far and wide.

Pet-nats are also a great introduction to wine for fans of craft beer, cider and cocktails as their carbonated fruit-forward flavors can be reminiscent of barrel-aged beers and ciders. Here are some of my favorite pét-nats that are perfect for Mother's Day gifts or just summer drinking in general.

Clos Lentiscus Rose Brut Nature

This beautiful pét-nat from Clos Lentiscus, a biodynamic vineyard in Catalonia, pours a copper color and has bright fruit flavor against a slightly musty, but pleasantly so, backend. Reminiscent of a lambic, it is bursting with fruit-forward flavor and is perfect for mom.

Vegas Altas Ancestral

Made with a co-ferment blend of organically grown (on clay soils) Macabeo, Xarello, and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, Vegas Atlas Ancestral has a fresh and fruity flavor. Bright and refreshing, it’s a very celebratory drink.

Bojo do Luar, Brut Luiza Pét-Nat Rosé

This bargain-priced $21.99 pét-nat is a red fruit-forward triumph of flavors that like, several other offerings on this list, is reminiscent of a mimosa in all the best ways. With bottle art featuring a bright circular cover, this is a wonderful bottle to gift to mom.

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A collaboration between Catalonian winery, Finca Parera, and Barcelona natural wine bar Bar Salvatge, this ancestral sparkling wine is made from Xarello and Chardonnay, grapes grown and cultivated through biodynamic farming. It’s got all the bright spring and summer flavors you want in a pét-nat.

Martin Texier, Petite Nature

Jason Black, of Ungrafted Selections, which imports this wine to the U.S. from France, recommended this to me when I asked him for a funk-forward pét-nat recommendation. He says it reminds him of a sour beer from Hill Farmstead and I agree.

XL Ancestral

Don’t let the minimalist bottle with only“XL” on it fool you, this pét-nat is bursting with dry fruit notes and more of the flavors you traditionally associate with Champagne but its natural wine attitude shines through the longer you let the bottle breath. It’s made from Xarello grapes that are hand-harvested and then it utilizes spontaneous fermentation.

Palazzo Tronconi Gizziello Pét-Nat Rose

This ruby red expression from Italy is made with grapes from a certified biodynamic farm and utilizes spontaneous fermentation. All that creates an engaging and beautiful to look at pét-nat with lots of bright citrus notes.

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The 33 best gifts for teachers, for Teacher Appreciation Day and beyond

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Teachers deserve a lot of appreciation these days and a great way to show them that all of their hard work has made an impact is with a simple but effective gift — particularly one that could help make their lives that much easier. 

Whether it's Teacher Appreciation Week or the last day of your favorite class, we outlined some practical gifts for your favorite teacher, from a portable coffee maker to an under-desk foot hammock.

Amazon Gift Card

At the end of the day, teachers will always appreciate a gift card from a place like Amazon where they can buy whatever they need for themselves or their classroom. Retailers like Target , Staples , or Walmart are also great options. 

A set of teacher affirmation cards

Teacher Affirmation Cards

Teaching can be overwhelming but these affirmation cards are sweet and grounding reminders that their work is meaningful. With mantras like "What other teachers swear by may not work for me and that's okay" and "My students feel safe in my classroom," these cards are a small but sweet token of appreciation for any teacher. 

Decadent cupcakes they can enjoy

Cupcake Gift Boxes

Who doesn't love getting a sweet surprise? With delicious flavors ranging from Cookie Dough to Pink Frosted Donut, these bite-size treats are sure to please. You can also add a special gift box to complete the gift.

A potted plant for their desk

Snake Plant Laurentii

Nothing says "thank you for helping me grow" quite like an indoor plant. 

Essential supplies with a personal touch

Personalized Teacher Whiteboard/Chalkboard Eraser

A teacher can never have too many whiteboard markers. This gift set comes with a customized whiteboard eraser for an extra personal touch.

A personalized message from their favorite celebrity

Cameo Video

Take the gold standard of teacher gifts — a personal and thoughtful letter — up a notch and have their favorite celebrity deliver the message. You can choose from thousands of celebrities to record a personalized video message to send to the teacher. (Since the more famous celebrities can be pricier, this can be a great gift to split with other classmates).

A bouquet of everlasting flowers to brighten their classroom

Idlewild Floral Confetti Deluxe Bouquet

Flowers are a classic way to brighten your teacher's day. While fresh flowers have their own charm, a dried bouquet can last for years and is fairly classroom-proof (no water-filled vase required). We named Idlewild the best flower delivery service for dried bouquets thanks to its lovely assortment of colorful and vibrant options.

A personalized embosser for their library

StampiShop Custom Stamp

This unique, thoughtful gift embosses books with "from the library of [their name]" by pressing down like a hole-puncher. It's the kind of thing most people would never buy themselves but would genuinely cherish and get a kick out of if they received it as a present.

A meaningful memory book

Teacher Memory Book

It can be easy to focus on the hard and stressful days of teaching but this thoughtful memory book will help them capture the best moments. With space for photos, student quotes, and question prompts, this gift is one they'll cherish throughout the years. 

A story from the students' perspective

"Dear Teacher" by Paris Rosenthal

Perfect for preschool or kindergarten teachers, "Dear Teacher" is a love letter to all kinds of educators, written from the perspective of the kids who learn from them. It's an adorable message that teachers can share and appreciate with their students.

An on-trend water bottle

Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler

A stellar water bottle is a timeless life upgrade, but it'll be especially useful this summer. This stainless steel version from Stanley is extremely popular, so your teacher will be on-trend with all their kiddos. 

A scented candle that reminds them of a happy place

Homesick Scented Candle

This is a great gift that's sure to make them feel sentimental. Whether it's their hometown, college town, or favorite spot to vacation, a Homesick candle — with scents inspired by all sorts of locations — will bring them back to that favorite place.

Adorable apple earrings for everyday wear

Fruit Drop Earrings

An apple is an old-school teacher gift but this one will last far longer than the first day of class. These bright, hand-cut fruit drop earrings come in strawberry, pink grapefruit, and green apple for a cute accessory they'll want to wear every day. 

A custom box of self-care goodies

Happy Boxes Build a Care Package

If you want to give the teacher in your life a custom care package, Happy Box has tons of unique gifts to choose from, including custom mugs, snacks, candles, coffee, and more. If you aren't sure what to include, you can start with a curated box and make it their own with a sweet card. 

A warming plate for their coffee

Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer

It's a rare day that a teacher gets to finish their coffee before it gets cold. Give them the gift of perpetually warm coffee with this mug warmer they can plug in right at their desk.

Takeout any time they want it

Door Dash Gift Card

Teachers log long days to support and enrich the lives of their students. Make sure their next easy, delicious dinner and relaxing night in is comped with a Doordash gift card.

A coloring book full of relatable phrases

"Teacher Life: A Snarky Chalkboard Coloring Book"

There are some situations that only teachers can understand, and this adult coloring book perfectly captures them with humor and cheekiness. The illustrations are single-sided, so they can take the page out and frame it if they so wish. 

A cute K-Mini Single-Serve coffee maker

K-Mini Single Serve Coffee Maker

If your teacher is a big fan of coffee, why not bring that luxury straight to their classroom? This miniature coffee maker is just small enough to fit on a desk or end-table and comes in six different colors for optimal color coordination. Plus, it'll be nice to have on-demand caffeine for those late-night grading sessions.

A way to squeeze in leisure reading

Audible 3-Month Membership

In between grading papers and designing lesson plans, it might be hard for your teacher to carve out time to read a book (for fun). Audible is a great way to catch up on the bestsellers everyone's reading , appreciate the classics from a new angle, or finally dive into that book they keep falling asleep to in bed. 

A funny book of the best wrong test answers

"F in Exams" by Richard Benson

After a stressful year for teachers, you may want to celebrate the funny and lighthearted side of the job. This book compiles some of the most amusing and inventive real-life wrong answers to grade school and high school tests.

Delicious food from some of the best restaurants in the US

Restaurant Meal Kits

Bring a bit of their favorite restaurant right to their door. From bagels to barbeque, Goldbelly ships food gifts nationwide from iconic eateries in major cities.

Treats to add to their snack stash

Snack Magic Stash

Almost every teacher keeps a stash of snacks and treats for those days when they really need a pick-me-up. With a snack magic box, you can create a custom snack box full of treats the teacher will love.

A book-of-the-month subscription

Book of the Month 3-Month Membership

A hardcover book delivered monthly is a great way for a teacher to unplug and kick their feet up over summer break. Every month, they can choose from acclaimed fiction and nonfiction titles.

A personalized notebook, planner, or address book

Teach From The Heart Notebook

Give this one to the best teacher you know. You'll be able to customize the cover design, interior cover, and interior format of the notebook. 

A personalized desk sign

GaroSigns Personalized Desk Wedge Sign

The wedge is a solid natural hardwood while the sign is shatter-resistant fogged acrylic glass, allowing it to last through any teacher's illustrious career. 

A custom rubber stamp

SayaBellStamps Custom Stamp

Gift the stamp they'll always reach for first as they check and grade homework. You can get creative by submitting a picture of your teacher's face or their favorite catchphrase. There are three different mount choices and many more size options. 

A cozy plush blanket

Bliss Plush Throw

Add to their home setup with a plush throw to wrap themselves in luxury . Available in a wide array of colors, this blanket adds coziness to any room.

A coffee subscription

Driftaway Coffee Subscription

Chances are the coffee in the teacher's lounge isn't exactly top-notch. Thankfully, Driftaway Coffee's is, and keeps things interesting by sending new whole bean varieties every month (and improving upon the next selection based on their feedback). By the end of the school year, your teacher will have a good idea of the type of coffee they really like. 

A fragrant candle

Otherland Candle

These sophisticated coconut and soy wax candles come in scents ranging from refreshing  Canopy (fig, ivy greens, mint) to rich Chandelier (champagne, saffron, leather). The beautiful look, delightful scents, and personalized matchbox make this candle gifting experience special . 

A personalized key ring

Leatherology Hotel Keychain

The full-grain leather keychain is a perfectly composed accessory that they'll love to carry, especially if you personalize it (for only $5) with a monogram. 

A detailed poster of opening lines from famous novels

Lab 'Diagrammatical Dissertation on Opening Lines of Notable Novels'

English and grammar teachers will appreciate this chart diagramming the opening lines from 25 famous works of fiction. After admiring the partitioned, color-coded picto-grammatical representations, they'll want to read the books all over again. 

A colorful tote bag

BAGGU Giant Pocket Tote

BAGGU makes great bags and its machine-washable cotton totes are no exception. Help your teacher carry all those lesson plans, tests, and homework papers with this cute yet sturdy tote. 

An coffee mug they'll actually use

Hydro Flask 12 oz Coffee Mug

Whatever it is they drink in the morning to prepare them for the school day ahead, this insulated mug keeps the beverage at the appropriate temperature for an astonishingly long amount of time. It has a comfortable handle and comes in many bright colors. 

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Mother’s Day Gifts for New Moms in 2024

Updated: May 6, 2024 Erin Leave a Comment This post may contain affiliate links . Using links to these sites means I may earn a percentage of the purchase at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon associate, I receive a percentage of qualifying purchases

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Inside: Mother’s Day is a special holiday for any mother–but it’s especially poignant for new moms! If you’re looking for a Mother’s Day gift for a new mom in your life, you’re going to appreciate this list of Mother’s Day gifts for new moms.  

Related: The 50 Best Mother’s Day Gifts for Grandmas  

I’ll never forget my first Mother’s Day as a mother.

My husband and firstborn daughter and I were living in Vancouver, BC, Canada as part of a missionary training adventure. This was back before my family began eating gluten-free , and we ate out at an Italian restaurant called The Spaghetti Factory. I inhaled the most delicious plate of spaghetti before smiling for a picture with my daughter in front of the restaurant.

I was  so proud to be her mom, and I knew this Mother’s Day–my first Mother’s Day as a new mom–would be one I would never forget. 

My Mother’s Day Gifts Over the Years

It’s funny, though. What I actually  don’t remember is what my husband gave me for Mother’s Day that year when I was a brand new mom! This is not indicative that it was not a good gift. On the contrary, it was probably a pretty amazing gift, as my husband is a spectacular gift giver. But since gifts rank at the bottom of my love languages , I usually recall experiences much more than presents. 

Over the years, I’ve grown to appreciate gifts so much more–enough to have some really great memories of my Mother’s Day gifts over the years.

My Kindle Paperwhite and my breastmilk ring (which I’m still wearing as I type this) stand out in my memory as two of my all-time favorite Mother’s Day gifts. 

My husband is the ultimate gift giver in our family. He will spend time dreaming, planning, researching, and thinking of the perfect gift ideas for those on his list . He has written many of the popular gift guides for my website because he’s just that good at picking out gifts for others.I’ve learned a lot from him during our marriage , and one of the things I appreciate learning from him the most is how to give good gifts.

Related: 35+ Christian-Themed Easter Basket Ideas

Mother’s Day Gifts for New Moms

Fast forward many years since my first Mother’s Day as a new mom way back in 2009, and one of my favorite moms to think about buying presents for are new moms . As the mom of four children now, I can think of so many gifts that would make a new mom smile on Mother’s Day.

That is what we have curated in this list of Mother’s Day gifts for new moms. 

You can’t go wrong when buying Mother’s Day gifts for new moms if you stick to the suggestions in this post. I hope this post gives you inspiration for choosing the best gift for your loved one this year!

Bonus: Need an easy-to-use, printable holiday menu planner ? Click HERE and I’ll send you mine for FREE! 

Related: How to Have a Date Night at Home

1. At home dates are a great gift idea for new moms.

Some new moms don’t want to leave their baby to go out for a date. Some don’t have childcare options. Either way, planning an at-home date (or blessing a young family you know with items to have one!) would make a great gift.

• Take Out: Whether you have food delivered, a meal kit delivered (like Blue Apron , EveryPlate , Hello Fresh , or Home Chef ), or send a gift card to their favorite restaurant , food is an important base to cover for an at-home date!
• Coffee: Gift them a Starbucks gift card so they’re husband can grab a fancy drink on the way home from work for a surprise at-home coffee date!
• Movie Night:  This pre-made movie night gift basket comes with all they need for an at-home movie date night! 

Related: Rejoicing and Mourning with Mothers on Mother’s Day

2. A fully planned and packed picnic would greatly bless a new mom!

Most new moms have to plan and prep for a lot of things. How about surprising her with a fully planned and packed picnic basket for her ? This is a thoughtful gift with lots of great options depending on her tastes and dietary preferences. 

In a picnic basket , consider including:

• Chocolate and Candy:  Chocolate cravings don’t disappear once the baby is born! If she’s watching her sugar intake, consider one of my faves– Lily’s sugar-free chocolate bars .  
• Healthy Snacks:  Balance out the sweet treats with some healthier options like  dried fruit ,  nuts ,  granola bars , popcorn , or jerky .
• Salty Snacks:  Don’t forget the savory snacks!  Chips ,  pretzels , and popcorn make for delicious munchies while out and about. 
• Unique Sodas: Surprise her with unique and exotic soda flavors that she may not have tried before, such as craft sodas or imported beverages. Our family’s personal decision is to avoid sugary sodas. If your new mom is the same, she may enjoy Zevia  and the sugar-free, prebiotic  Poppi Sodas.
• Fresh Fruits and Veggies: Help round out the picnic with some fresh produce. You could even include a box of organic produce from Misfits Market ! 
• Fresh-baked Treats: You know her best!  Consider packing her favorite treat from a local bakery or store. Or make her something yourself! (These homemade lactation cookies are perfect for nursing mothers! Not a baker? Etsy has a bunch of different homemade lactation cookies for sale too!) 

Related: 100+ Stocking Stuffers for Teen Girls (Co-Written by Teen Girls & Their Mom!)

3. Self-care kits make great gifts for new moms. 

Mothers spend decades of their lives taking care of others. A self-care kit may be just what they need to encourage them to take care of themselves as well! A self-care kit can be a thoughtful and practical Mother’s Day gift for new moms. 

The following make perfect items for a self-care kit for new moms:

• Skincare Products:   Cleaners ,  moisturizers ,  face masks , and  lip balms  can help them take care of their skin and feel pampered. I especially recommend the  Countertime skincare line from Beautycounter . This line includes hyaluronic acid, which is a popular ingredient for its anti-aging properties. 
• Bath and Body Products:  Treat them to luxurious  bath bombs  ( you can even make your own! ),  shower gels ,  body lotions , and  scrubs  for a  spa-like experience at home .
• Candles:  Create a relaxing atmosphere with scented candles that help them unwind and de-stress after a long day. I especially recommend non-toxic candles (like  this one ). 
• Essential Oils:  A set of  essential oils  and a  diffuser can help new moms create a calming and refreshing environment in their homes. They can mix and match oils to create their own signature blends. Get  10% off   essential oils, diffusers, and body care products from my favorite essential oils brand– Plant Therapy !  Use code humbledhomemaker10 when you shop  HERE .  
• TIME : Gift her time to enjoy these self-care items too! Volunteer to come hold her baby while she relaxes. 

4. Books make great gifts for new moms.

I absolutely  love reading. My reading habit has changed from season to season, especially after becoming a mom. When my babies were teeny tinies, I read mostly via my Kindle Paperwhite. Now, as the mom of older kids and teens, I listen to audiobooks more than anything else. 

You know the new mom in your life better than anyone, but the following may be some good ideas when it comes to new moms in your life who are bookworms.

Some of my top suggestions for books for new moms include:

• Bestselling Novels in Her Favorite Genre: A work of  historical fiction or Christian romance novels from Karen Kingsbury  and  Robin Jones Gunn  make great gifts. Or, choose classic literature that aligns with their interests and preferences. Alternatively, you can gift her a beautiful edition of her all-time favorite book . 
• New Children’s Books:  Reading to the baby is such a joy.  Consider giving her some new books that she and baby can enjoy together – Don’t Forget to Remember , I Love Mom with the Very Hungry Caterpillar , or Loved: The Lord’s Prayer would all make great additions to her library.
• Blank Book or Journal:  Does the new mom in your life enjoy journaling ? Consider gifting her with a  beautiful new journal , where she can record favorite memories for future generations. Be sure to include a sweet message from you in the front of the book! 
• Cookbook: New moms are typically short on time, especially at dinner time.  Look for cookbooks that allow her to get meals on the table quickly!

No matter what type of book you choose, don’t forget to include a special message inside the front cover! 

Related: 10 Unique Father’s Day Gift Ideas

5. Household help makes for a great gift for new moms. 

I love this Mother’s Day gift idea for new moms! Lending a helping hand at home, while she has her hands full with the baby, may be the only gift she wants. 

Some gift ideas that fit into the household help category include:

• Housecleaning: This would probably be my top pick! Of course, you need to make sure the new mom in your life feels comfortable with someone else coming into her home to clean . (Some don’t.) If it’s not in your budget to pay to get the entire home cleaned, you could always pay to clean the area of her choice–like the  bathrooms  or kitchen. If it’s in your budget to pay for a monthly clean for the entire year, you can do that too! Alternatively, you can give her a homemade coupon to do the house cleaning yourself!
• Decluttering:  This is where only you know the new mom in your life the best. If she is constantly complaining of being overwhelmed with clutter and wishing she could hire someone to help, then consider splurging on hiring a professional home organizer . Or, you can always make a homemade coupon to show her you’re willing to come and  help her declutter yourself .
• Laundry Service:  Sure, she may have a simple laundry system she loves. But perhaps taking this off her hands will free her up to focus on the baby, and maybe even some much needed rest. Search for laundering services in your local community. Many will come pick up laundry from the front porch and bring it back washed, dried, and folded for you the next day!
• Professional Carpet and/or Tile Cleaning:  My floors are mainly carpeted, so my husband and I get  our carpets professionally cleaned at least once per year. If your new mom has a lot of rugs or carpets in her home, this may be the perfect gift for her – especially as the baby becomes more mobile and crawls around all over that carpet! Or, you can pay to get whatever type of flooring she has professionally deep cleaned .
• Robot Vacuum:  This one is my  favorite . It’s a gift we’ve given as well. A  robotic vacuum cleaner  is truly the gift that keeps on giving.   I have one of these  myself, and it’s truly one of the best Mother’s Day gifts you can give!

Related: Tie-Less Father’s Day Gift Ideas (Written by a Man)

6. Photo gifts specifically for expecting moms. 

Photo gifts for the mom-to-be are especially precious. They help capture that special time of growing their sweet baby.

• Maternity Photo Shoot: Delight her with a once-in-a-lifetime (well, the baby’s lifetime anyway!) gift – a maternity photo shoot!  Whether you hire someone to take the pictures, or you are the photographer, this will be a cherished gift forever.
• Sonogram Picture Frame:  The first pictures of baby are a treasure!  Finding an adorable frame just for a sonogram picture would be a sweet first Mother’s Day gift.
• Personalized Photo Frame:  Find a special photo frame that can be personalized – either with words, like this one – or by adding pictures as the baby grows, like this one .

Related: 7 Classic Novels Every Mom Should Read

7. Personalized gifts are perfect for Mother’s Day.

Make your new mom’s Mother’s Day gift extra special with personalized items that show you’ve put thought and effort into her gift. This category gives a personalized touch that the other gifts in this list may lack. Consider:

• Monogrammed Gifts:  Add a personal touch with monogrammed items like a  pajama set ,  tote bag  or  travel jewelry box . You can splurge a little more and purchase a personalized gift in her name. 
• Accessories just for Mom: She’d love something that is just for her: tumbler ,  jewelry , or cozy slippers .
• Pretty Mug:  Choose  a mug  with her favorite  Scripture verse  or an inspirational quote. She will think of you every time she uses the mug for her morning coffee! 

Related: The 24/7 Mother

8. New Moms appreciate services to make their lives easier.

In the same vein as household help, consider gifting the new mom in your life a service to make her life easier. I know I appreciate services these as a busy mom of four!

Consider the following services that can make her life easier:

• Instacart :  Considering purchasing her an Instacart+ membership, so she has grocery delivery without extra fees.
• Walmart+:  My family uses this to get our Walmart groceries delivered, and it’s even more affordable than Instacart. We love it!
• Stitch Fix : Postpartum clothing can be hard!  Help her feel like a new woman by gifting her the service of having someone help her shop or even shop her own closet .  I have a post on what I found to be helpful to wear when I was postpartum myself.

I hope this list of Mother’s Day gift ideas for new moms has jogged your creativity and helped you come up with the perfect gift for your loved one. Don’t forget to include a Mother’s Day card with your gifts as well! 

Remember, it’s not just about the gifts; it’s about showing them how much you care. So, get creative, have fun, and make this Mother’s Day a special day to remember. 

BONUS: Get Your Free Holiday Menu Planner Printable

Steps to get it:

• Click HERE and fill out the form to sign up for my bi-weekly-ish newsletter to receive content just like this post! (Unsubscribe at any time!)
• Click “download your free printable” and you will be taken to a new menu, where you can print out your free printable menu plan!

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Mother's Day Gift Ideas

• Gifts for every budget
• Unique gifts for mom
• Gifts for first-time moms
• Gifts for your mother-in-law
• Gifts for grandma
• Gifts for your stepmom

Guide to Mother's Day 2024: Things to do in NJ, places to eat, stories to read about Mom

Mother's Day is when you serve mom breakfast in bed, give her flowers and pamper her.

Or, we could take him out to dinner, proffers our NorthJerseyEats food team. (They also suggest some great gifts for foodie moms.)

Or we could just celebrate her — as many of our stories, photos and videos have over the years. We thought it would be nice to gather them here, and we hope you enjoy reading our tributes, profiles, essays and suggestions for great things to do, make and buy for Mother's Day.

Here's to Mom!

Enjoy a delicious Mother's Day Brunch at these seven North Jersey restaurants

Along with an amusing but cautionary tale about mishearing what kind of gift mom would like for Mother's Day, our food writer Kara VanDooijeweert offers lots of great suggestions of where to take mom for brunch on Sunday. Go out: Enjoy a delicious Mother's Day Brunch at these seven North Jersey restaurants

Think outside the brunch this Mother's Day: 7 ways to celebrate mom in North Jersey

The possibilities for celebrating Mother's Day in North Jersey are limitless, so make this May 12 unforgettable by making some unique memories with mom. Whether she enjoys learning a new skill, exploring nature, or just having a day of rest and relaxation, we have some suggestions for you. Take mom out: Think outside the brunch this Mother's Day: 7 ways to celebrate mom in North Jersey

Stanley is dropping 2 new collections: Soft goods and Mother's Day

Do you need a Mother's Day gift? How about a new cooler or a place to store your water bottle on the go? If so, Stanley has you covered with two new collections that will be dropping over the next week. Here is everything you need to know about the trendy tumbler company's upcoming releases. Read it: Stanley is dropping 2 new collections: Soft goods and Mother's Day

Want real home cooking? Go to Mom's Restaurant. Any of them

With Mother's Day — Sunday May 12 — just around the corner, we dare to ask: Why are so many restaurants named for mother? Mom's Kitchen (Fort Lee), Mom's Restaurant (Ringoes), Mama’s Café Baci (Hackettstown), Mom’s Golden Griddle (Manalapan), Madre & Son Soulfood Café (Newark), Mom’s Kitchen (New Brunswick), Mom’s Kitchen to Go (Mahwah), Momma’s Place (Linden), Mama Suegra Café (Parlin), Meemom’s (Brick, Middletown, Wall) are just a few in New Jersey. Née mother's: Want real home cooking? Go to Mom's Restaurant. Any of them

On Mother's Day, spare a thought for that eternal punchline: the mother-in-law

The mother-in-law is — or was — one of the most reliable punchlines in show business. She was bossy. Domineering. Overprotective of her daughter, and endlessly critical of her choice of husband. Worst of all, she was none of those things from a distance. Always, she was depicted as being on a visit that never ends. This Mother's Day, as you're giving candy and flowers and singing "M is for the Million things she gave me...," spare a thought for the poor, unhappy mother-in-law. Cue the laugh track: On Mother's Day, spare a thought for that eternal punchline: the mother-in-law

Songs only a mother could love

M is for the million songs that have been written about Mother. But not lately. Bouquets, baubles, Hallmark cards — those are the kinds of things we buy for Mother on her big day. The sheet music to the latest popular song about mother, not so much. But once upon a time, Mother was a song genre. More than that, she was an industry. Mother — not just on Mother's Day, but any time of year — used to be considered one of the few surefire topics for a Tin Pan Alley songwriter in search of a hit. Strike up the band: Songs only a mother could love

Yankee Stadium honored this North Jersey woman as 'Veteran of the Day' on Mother's Day

In 2023, Nancy Radoslovich was honored with a standing ovation at Yankee Stadium's home plate on Mother's Day as the  Veteran of the Game . For a self-described lifelong die-hard Yankee fan, it was almost as good as being in the lineup. Radoslovich served with the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps from 1986 to 1994, including a tour as an operating room nurse in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm from 1990 to 1991, retiring with the rank of lieutenant commander. "Think M.A.S.H. television show and that's a pretty good idea what I was doing," Radoslovich said days after the honor at the stadium in the Bronx. "Living in tents, wounded soldiers." Read more : Yankee Stadium honored this North Jersey woman as 'Veteran of the Day' on Mother's Day

A Mother's Day gift to remember: NJ daughter donates kidney to ailing mom

When Teresita Sayasa's kidneys began to fail last year, her daughter Tracy Montemayor immediately offered to donate one of her own. But Teresita, 71, was hesitant. What toll would transplant surgery take on Tracy? Would her daughter be able to live a full life with one kidney? What if Tracy's teenage son or another younger relative needed one of her kidneys in the future? "I told her that she wasn't going to be able to survive this without me," Tracy said. In 2023, mom, daughter and other family members gathered at a Korean barbecue restaurant to not only celebrate an early Mother's Day but to mark Teresita's new lease on life. It was a long road to that point. Read about their journey: A Mother's Day gift to remember: NJ daughter donates kidney to ailing mom

This North Jersey mother-daughter duo are changing the luxury clothing industry

Growing up, Margot Adams’s relationship with her mother Gina Kuyers wasn’t always smooth. But as adults, they learned to work well together ― literally. In 2019, Adams joined her mother's business, Luxeire, which creates comfortable women's clothing using ecofriendly fabric, as head of marketing and sales. Mom and daughter duo: This North Jersey mother-daughter duo are changing the luxury clothing industry

This story is from our archives. Please call ahead to check on whether restaurants are still open, prices are still the same or menus are still being offered.

Best Mother's Day brunch at every price point, including secret gems you might not know of

if you're planning on taking Mom out for a delicious brunch, don't wait any longer to make a reservation. Do it now! It's Mom, after all. Where should you take Mom? That depends on your budget, of course, and what mom likes to eat. So to help you, here's our Mother's Day dining roundup that includes a variety of North Jersey restaurants that offer different cuisines and different price points (including some smaller chain restaurant options, if that's what your mom prefers). Note that many of the listings for prix-fixe Mother's Day meals do not include taxes and gratuities. Where to take mom: Best Mother's Day brunch at every price point, including secret gems you might not know of

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Mother's Day things to do in New Jersey, brunch spots, gift idea guide

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